Weather Explainers

Weather Words: Wintry Mix

A wintry mix is a combination of snow, sleet and freezing rain occurring at the same time, creating tricky and varied winter weather conditions.

A wintry mix can bring dangerous conditions and, exactly what it sounds like, a diverse platter of different types of winter weather within a very tiny window.

A wintry mix is a weather term used when more than one type of frozen precipitation occurs at the same time, or within a small timeframe. Instead of just snow, sleet or freezing rain, you might see a combination.

For example, you could see snowflakes falling alongside sleet pellets, or rain that freezes on contact with cold surfaces. This mix often happens when the atmosphere has layers of varying temperatures: Cold air near the ground can turn rain into sleet or freezing rain, while the upper layers still produce snow.

Motorists are warned of an accident ahead during winter weather.
(NOAA)

Wintry mixes can make travel particularly tricky. Roads may be icy in some spots, slushy in others, and snow-covered where the cold air is deepest. Unlike a straightforward snowstorm, a wintry mix requires more attention because conditions can change quickly over short distances, making driving and walking hazardous. Forecasters use the term to warn people that precipitation won’t be uniform and to prepare for multiple winter hazards at once.

Despite the challenges, a wintry mix can be beautiful to watch. Snow drifting through rain or sleet can create sparkling, almost magical scenes. Just make sure you’re safely indoors or prepared if you venture out.

Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.