Räntänä

Räntänä is a Swedish term that describes a specific type of precipitation. It is a mixture of rain and snow, or more precisely, partially melted snowflakes. This meteorological phenomenon occurs when the temperature is close to freezing, typically between 0 and 2 degrees Celsius (32 to 36 degrees Fahrenheit). As snowflakes fall through a layer of air that is slightly above freezing, they begin to melt from the outside in. However, they do not completely melt before reaching the ground, resulting in a wet, slushy form of precipitation.

The appearance of räntänä can vary. It might look like large, wet snowflakes that clump together easily, or it could resemble small, icy pellets that have the consistency of wet gravel. When räntänä accumulates on the ground, it often forms a slippery slush that can be hazardous for driving and walking. The term itself is derived from the Swedish words for "interest" or "rent" and "as," suggesting something that is added or accumulated. While not a scientifically distinct type of precipitation in international meteorological classification, räntänä is a common and locally understood term in Sweden to describe this particular weather condition. It is distinct from sleet, which consists of frozen raindrops, and hail, which is ice formed in thunderstorms.