Wintry weather is characterized by cold temperatures and precipitation, such as SLEET and SNOW. SLEET is a type of frozen precipitation that is made up of ice pellets or small pieces of ice that form when rain passes through a layer of cold air and freezes. SNOW is a type of frozen precipitation that is made up of soft, white flakes that form when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses and freezes. Both SLEET and SNOW can cause hazardous conditions on roads and sidewalks.