Snow, sleet, freezing rain: What's the difference?

Snow is frozen precipation that stays frozen as it falls to the ground.

Sleet starts as snow but melts in warm air and refreezes before landing. It often falls as ice pellets that can bounce when they hit the ground of the hood of a car.

Freezing rain melts in warm air, lands as normal rain and then freezes to cold surfaces. When freezing rain lands and accululates on tree branches and power lines, it can weigh them down to the point that they collapse.

More:

ExploreNational Weather Service: Winter Weather Preparedness

ExploreIce Storms: Why they're so Dangerous

About the Author

Staff reports

DeKalb ambulance provider to receive $77 million contract despite struggles

County officials say ambulance provider AMR has made progress on response times and that the new subsidy should help.

VETERANS DAY

Georgia’s Woman Veteran of the Year beat cancer. Now she helps others.

Georgia Woman Veteran of the Year Raquel Durden survived advanced cancer. Now she helps other female military veterans through her Humble Warrior nonprofit.

Pamela Reardon, East Cobb political activist, dead at 71

Pamela Reardon, an East Cobb political activist for GOP candidates and conservative advocacy groups, died Nov. 1 at the age of 71.

The Latest

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

A.M. ATL: Just a TAD

A.M. ATL: Schools and screens

VETERANS DAY

Georgia’s Woman Veteran of the Year beat cancer. Now she helps others.

Featured

Credit: NYT

DeKalb school district reveals $4M social media addiction problem

The district is suing social media companies to get them to pay for addressing students' addiction to apps like Instagram. The companies argue they aren't to blame.

Atlanta airport sees continued cancellations because of shutdown

More than 115 flight cancellations were recorded on a quieter frigid Tuesday morning, far below Saturday's surge of 370.

For Ossoff and Georgia Democrats, the shutdown fight is the message

The fight over the federal government shutdown has allowed Georgia Democrats, like U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, to show that they have the grit to stand up to Republicans.