Precipitation Type Estimator
Estimate whether precipitation is likely to fall as rain, snow, ice pellets, or freezing rain from the vertical temperature profile.
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Temperature Profile
How the vertical profile decides the type
Most precipitation begins as snow high in the cloud. What reaches the ground depends on the warm and cold layers it falls through. A warm layer (above 0 degC) melts snow into rain. If a subfreezing layer sits below that warm layer, the drops can refreeze: a deep cold layer produces ice pellets, while a shallow one produces supercooled freezing rain that freezes on contact. If the whole column is at or below freezing, snow reaches the surface intact.
Because this hinges on layers aloft, surface temperature alone is not enough — which is exactly why this estimator asks for temperatures at altitude.
This is an educational estimator, not a forecast. Precipitation type and icing depend on factors this simplified model cannot capture. Always rely on official aviation weather products, forecasts, and a full briefing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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