Graupel (German pronunciation: [ˈɡʁaʊpəl]; Enɡlish: [ˈgɹaʊpəl]), also called soft hail or snow pellets, is precipitation that forms when supercooled water droplets are collected and freeze on falling snowflakes, forming 2–5 mm (0.08–0.20 in) balls of rime.
Graupel is distinct from hail, small hail, and ice pellets: the World Meteorological Organization (https://public.wmo.int/en)defines small hail as snow pellets encapsulated by ice, a precipitation halfway between snow pellets and hail. Small hail is common in thunderstorms, while graupel typically falls in winter storms. wikipedia
What is the difference between hail and graupel?
- Graupel (a.k.a. soft hail or snow pellets) are small soft pellets of ice created when supercooled water droplets coat a snowflake. Sleet (a.k.a. … Snow forms mainly when water vapor turns to ice without going through the liquid stage. Touching the graupel can cause it to melt and fall apart, unlike hail which is more durable, heavy and solid.
What does Graupel look like?
- Looks a lot like sleet or small hailstones, but the small balls are made of snow, not ice, and they are white in colour, they almost look like tiny styrofoam pellets.
What is a Graupel shower?
- Graupel (also called soft hail or snow pellets), is precipitation that forms when supercooled water droplets are collected and freeze on falling snowflakes, forming 2–5 mm (0.08–0.20 in) balls of rime.
Is Graupel the same as sleet?
- Graupel forms when snowflakes are coated with a layer of ice. Unlike hail or sleet, graupel is soft and can fall apart easily in your hand. Sleet is a form of precipitation consisting of ice pellets, often mixed with rain or snow.
Sleet 
Graupel
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