Types of cold precipitation and the conditions that cause them

Rain Falls to surface as liquid and is liquid at surface May have (in fact likely to have) begun as snow within cloud, then melted when falling through above-freezing air Air temperature is above freezing from surface well up into atmosphere	Vertical temperature profile for rain to occur
Freezing rain Falls to surface as liquid then freezes upon contact with surface May have (in fact likely to have) begun as snow within cloud, then melted when falling through above-freezing air, then freezing only after reaching ground Air temperature is below freezing in very shallow layer above surface and is above freezing from over that layer to well up into atmosphere	Vertical temperature profile for freezing rain to occur
Sleet Falls to surface as solid ice after having been liquid droplet May have (in fact likely to have) begun as snow within cloud, then melted when falling through above-freezing air, then having enough time to refreeze (into pellet, not flake) before reaching ground Air temperature is below freezing in relatively thick layer above surface and is above freezing in a higher layer	Vertical temperature profile for sleet to occur
Snow Falls to surface as crystals Began as snow crystals within cloud Remained in below-freezing air throughout descent to ground (or possibly travelled briefly through above-freezing air, but not for long enough for complete melting of crystals to occur)	Vertical temperature profile for snow to occur