With reference to Metform 3208B for climatological returns, does
anyone know if soft hail of 3mm diameter goes under the same coding as
3mm ice pellets ie 4?

Fell at 1705hr here in Coventry according to my mate Keiron, but
Ibhaven't got my Observers' handbook available, nor my new spot on
guide, whatever it is called - no where near as good IMHO!

Cheers

Steve Jackson
Bablake Weather Station
Coventry UK
www.bablakeweather.co.uk

Steve

I have a quick look in my books "Spot on" and The older "Observers
Guide" and I cant find any reference to soft hail. ( as yet )

I may have called it " Snow Pellets" if it hit a hard surface and
broke up on impact, plenty of descriptions in the books about this

Go for Code 5 in the snow section ?

Open to discussion

Definition - Page 59
"Snow pellets, precipitation of white and opaque ice particles which
are generally rounded but sometimes conical, their diameter is in the
range 2-5mm. The pellets are brittle and easily crushed, when they
fall on hard ground they bounce and readily break up"

hope this helps

Paul Crabtree
Brampton, Cumbria
www.bramptonweather.co.uk

On Mar 20, 8:14 pm, wrote:
Definition - Page 59
"Snow pellets, precipitation of white and opaque ice particles which
are generally rounded but sometimes conical, their diameter is in the
range 2-5mm. The pellets are brittle and easily crushed, when they
fall on hard ground they bounce and readily break up"

hope this helps

Paul Crabtree
Brampton, Cumbriawww.bramptonweather.co.uk

Thanks for the definition. We've had some here. The question is
whether it counts as a day of snow or one of hail (ie "soft hail") I
have called it snow and fortunately there was some real snow both
today and yesterday to confirm the record. I won't be recording a day
of hail. Any comments?

Tudor Hughes, Warlingham, NE Surrey,. 556 ft.

21/03/2007 08:02:46
Tudor Hughes wrote in message
.com

On Mar 20, 8:14 pm, wrote:
Definition - Page 59
"Snow pellets, precipitation of white and opaque ice particles
which
are generally rounded but sometimes conical, their diameter is in
the
range 2-5mm. The pellets are brittle and easily crushed, when
they
fall on hard ground they bounce and readily break up"

hope this helps

Paul Crabtree
Brampton, Cumbriawww.bramptonweather.co.uk

Thanks for the definition. We've had some here. The question
is
whether it counts as a day of snow or one of hail (ie "soft hail")
I
have called it snow and fortunately there was some real snow both
today and yesterday to confirm the record. I won't be recording a
day
of hail. Any comments?

Tudor Hughes, Warlingham, NE Surrey,. 556 ft.
A Day of Snow or Sleet (table 24 Met.O. 951a)
only 1 Sleet or 5 Snow
A Day of Hail (table 23 Met.O. 951a)
2 Snow grains, 3 Snow pellets, 4 Ice pellets
On my card Ice pellets is crossed out and replaced by Small hail
(can't remember when that amendment came out). However, of no
consequence as I note that SPOT-ON Observers Guide has 4 as Ice
Pellets or hail 5mm diameter.
Any one remeber Ice pellets type (b). Even after 45 years of
observing I can still find this area confusing at times!
Dave
Fair Isle

On Mar 20, 7:17 pm, "Steve J" wrote:
With reference to Metform 3208B for climatological returns, does
anyone know if soft hail of 3mm diameter goes under the same coding as
3mm ice pellets ie 4?

Fell at 1705hr here in Coventry according to my mate Keiron, but
Ibhaven't got my Observers' handbook available, nor my new spot on
guide, whatever it is called - no where near as good IMHO!

Cheers

Steve Jackson
Bablake Weather Station
Coventry UKwww.bablakeweather.co.uk

"Soft Hail" Not in Sydenham mate it always well 'ard down 'ere.