In article ,
Dave Wheeler writes:
The following from the 22 August 2003 edition of The Shetland Times
(25, 50 and 100years ago column)

Quote

100 YEARS AGO
Whalsay correspondent. - An old Shetland proverb says "The longer we
live the more fairleys we see", and such surely is the case when we get
snow on the 12th August. On Wednesday last week the weather was close,
thick and warm, with but little or no wind. The sky became clouded, and
the wind veered round to north, bringing at first sleet, and then hail.
Indeed so heavy was the hail, that the island lay white for some time,
just as we have seen it at times in the month of March, the only
difference being that the air was very warm.

If the "air was very warm", then I suspect that the "sleet" was
partially melted hail.
--
John Hall "Do you have cornflakes in America?"
"Well, actually, they're American."
"So what brings you to Britain then if you have cornflakes already?"
Bill Bryson: "Notes from a Small Island"