Which phenomenon is precipitation that forms when water freezes into pellets in strong updrafts during storms?

Which phenomenon is precipitation that forms when water freezes into pellets in strong updrafts during storms?

• A. Sleet
• B. Hail
• C. Rain
• D. Snow

Answer: (B)

Strong updrafts in a thunderstorm lift water droplets high into cold parts of the cloud, where they freeze into ice pellets. These pellets can be carried upward again, gathering more layers of ice as supercooled droplets freeze on contact. When the updrafts can no longer support them, they fall to the ground, often in multiples, as hail. This behavior—repeated lifting and freezing in storm updrafts—is what makes it hail. By contrast, sleet forms when frozen droplets refreeze before reaching the ground, rain is liquid precipitation from warmer parts of the cloud, and snow forms from water vapor turning directly into ice crystals in very cold air.

Strong updrafts in a thunderstorm lift water droplets high into cold parts of the cloud, where they freeze into ice pellets. These pellets can be carried upward again, gathering more layers of ice as supercooled droplets freeze on contact. When the updrafts can no longer support them, they fall to the ground, often in multiples, as hail. This behavior—repeated lifting and freezing in storm updrafts—is what makes it hail. By contrast, sleet forms when frozen droplets refreeze before reaching the ground, rain is liquid precipitation from warmer parts of the cloud, and snow forms from water vapor turning directly into ice crystals in very cold air.