On the dependence of winter precipitation types on temperature, precipitation rate and associated features

In particular, several precipitation types can form in an environment with a melting layer aloft and a refreezing layer below. These precipitation types include freezing rain, ice pellets, wet snow, and slush.

To examine the formation of such precipitation, a bulk microphysics scheme was used to compare the characteristics of the hydrometeors produced by the model and observed by a research aircraft flight during the 1998 ice storm near Montreal, Canada. The model reproduced several of the observed key precipitation characteristics. Sensitivity tests on the precipitation types formed during the ice storm were also performed.