There are four types of snow crystals
- Snowflakes – These are single ice crystals or clusters of ice crystals that fall from a cloud. These are the pretty, white flakes that fall directly from the sky as precipitation and they are often symmetrical.
- Hoarfrost – When ice crystals fall on a surface (like tree branches, leaves, wires, etc.) that is lower in temperature or below freezing than the surrounding atmosphere, the result is the rapid freezing of the moist crystals into solid state.
- Graupel – These are cute, opaque, capsule-shaped ice crystals. They are often around 2-5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) in size. They are formed when ice crystals travel through super cooled water droplets at temperatures below freezing and rounds the crystals out. If the ice crystals are more than 5 millimeters and harder, then they are called hail.
- Polycrystals – These are simply snowflakes made up of many individual ice crystals.
Types of snowfall
- Blizzard – This is a violent winter storm, lasting at least three hours. It combines subfreezing temperatures and very strong winds. It is laden with blowing snow which reduces visibility if you are outside.
- Snow squall – This is a brief but intense snowfall that greatly reduces visibility and often comes with strong winds. A watch alert is issued when “conditions are favourable for the development of brief periods of very poor visibilities caused by heavy snow and blowing snow.”
- Blowing snow – This is when snow is raised by the wind to moderate or great heights above the ground. This causes very poor visibility.
- Winter storm – When two or more severe and potentially dangerous winter weather conditions combine, it is called a winter storm.
- Snow flurry – Snow that falls for short durations and with varying intensity. Flurries are those light, fluttering snow that melt on the pavement a few minutes after they fall. They are not alarming at all.
Types of snow cover:
- New snow – This is a recent deposit of snow where you can still see shapes of snow crystals.
- Old snow – Long standing snow fall. This is usually smooth and flat. You won’t be able to discern the snow crystals.
- Firn – This is old snow (older than one year) that has re-crystallized into a dense material.
- Seasonal snow – Snow that lasts for only one season.
- Perennial snow – Snow that deposits over numerous winter seasons and does not thaw in the melt season.
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