Graupel

Was pretty happy when I got the call from Tractor Central that they would be dropping off my little garden tractor today.  They had picked it up last month for it's yearly maintenance.  Since Tractor Central's doors are closed because of the coronavirus and I knew they wouldn't return it until they had a pickup in the area, I was a tiny bit concerned that I might not get it back before the grass needed mowing.  Temps had been mild and the lawn was already showing a green tinge to it.  However, I certainly didn't need to be worried.  Right after they left it off it started to 'graupel' (think of it as a hard snow or soft hail).  It did that off and on for the rest of the day.  Graupel is interesting.  Water droplets can become supercooled when they lack a seed crystal/nucleus to form around - i.e. the temperature drops below freezing but water droplets remain liquid.  When these supercooled water droplets meet up w/ snow crystals they freeze on contact causing the snow to be 'rimed'.  You can tell the difference between:

Graupel and Snow since graupel forms oblong pellets.
Graupel and Hail because graupel is soft and will fall apart when touched.
Graupel which is white and Ice Pellets which are clear.
Graupel and Sleet because sleet is frozen water which will form a coating.
In the Northwoods we aren't just particular about cheese.