??? Not snow but not hail stones either, what is it called?

[warpig3]

Was out this afternoon and got caught in a 'shower' of something, it wasnt snow but it wasnt hail stones. Basically it had the lightness of snow but the shape and size of hail stones, it was light and carried easily in the air, kinda floated just like light snow, but when it landed on the pram it definitely wasnt snwo flakes, so, any idea?????

Is it something really obvious and was I mitching off class that day in O level geography???

Many thanks
warpig

[4candles]

Never really thought about the name, but we often get that stuff here. As it's a ball (albeit very small) rather than a flake, I'd say it was a very light hail.

[warpig3]

Yes 4candles, that is it, dont think I have seen it before or if I have, have taken no notice of it. It looked like someone had let loose a bean bags' insides. Some of it was about a half to three quarters of a centimeter across but still so light to carry in the wind.

I should add that I am in central scotland (formely from Norhtern Ireland) if that makes a difference.

[weeal]

warpig, d'ya know I did wonder when you mentioned scottish weather at the weekend and I was saying to Kola, isnt warpig in ireland lol

when did you move, and are you enjoying your new home?

[FKNelectro]

it was like that where i am too!!! it was weird, and my dog got very worried about it..
i have no idea though, just thought i'd share :)

[$TheBest$]

Maybe it was raining ice... or sleet.

[Clanad]

Given the right conditions, the phenomena will be either Snow Grains or Snow Pellets. They are similar and differences are technical in nature, but, generally, both are caused by liquid rain falling at altitude and the passing through a freezing layer of air... Not nearly as hard or as heavy as similar sized hail stones...

[gen2]

I once worked (for over 2 years) as a Meteorological observer and can tell you the correct term applied in the 1970s was 'Soft Hail' . I don't know if this term is still current, but I'll check it out on Google.

[gen2]

Yes, Soft Hail is the same as Snow Pellets and is also called Graupel

Snow Grains are very much smaller as their name implies.

[4candles]

Interesting answers coming in, warpig. So, it does have a name then. I'm also in Scotland (Moray), and I see a lot more of the stuff now than when I lived in the English Midlands.

[heathfield]

You'd sometimes hear the expression 'soft hail' when the 'weather reports from coastal stations' used to be broadcast.

[warpig3]

Wow, excellent answers (as always) everyone. So I havent discovered some weird weather phenomenon then, darn, there goes my claim to fame.

I have decided to opt with the name Graupe, purely because it sounds more mysterious and hopefully I can fool people into believing I know what I am talking about.

thank you all
warpig

[warpig3]

Oops, sorry weeal, moved from Belfast to Linlithgow last March so have been here a full year now.

[Muppit]

I've been spending a lot of time in Brooklyn, NY loately and have had the pleasure of 'THE FAMOUS BROOKLYN FREEZING RAIN' on several occassions now, does anyone know the technical name for that? It's not like regular hail, it settles like snow, but unlike the warpig phenomena, it was hard and stung like mad!!! (Knowing what Americans are like, it's probably just bigger better hail!!)