In the US “sleet” is the term for a winter precipitation that occurs when snow falls through a layer of warm air and melts into water droplets, then re-freezes into ice pellets as it passes through colder air closer to the ground. In many other areas that were part of the British empire that precipitation is called “ice pellets” and “sleet” instead refers to a mix of snow and rain. In the US that’s called a “wintry mix.”

    • Ookami38@sh.itjust.works
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      9 days ago

      Hail is precip that has been able to repeatedly rise and fall on air currents, building up in size. What they’re referring to as sleet is essentially just crunchy snow in size and texture.

    • Feathercrown@lemmy.world
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      8 days ago

      Hail is larger and is created from strong winds tumbling and freezing layers onto ice in a storm. Sleet (either definition) and hail are quite different.