snøkorn

Snøkorn, or snow grains, is a form of solid precipitation consisting of very small, opaque ice particles that fall from a cloud. They are smaller than typical snowflakes and often appear as a fine, almost invisible fall, or as a light, pale veil crossing the sky. Because of their size, they are usually perceptible only as a brief, light shower or when observed in calm air near the ground.

Physically, snow grains are tiny, rounded or irregular ice particles with no distinct crystalline shape. They have a low terminal velocity and tend to disappear rapidly by sublimation or melting in warmer air, so measurable accumulation is uncommon. They commonly occur with shallow or mid-level cloud layers in cold, humid conditions and are more likely in stable atmospheric situations with low winds.

In meteorology, snow grains are an established category of precipitation. They are coded as SG in international meteorological reporting (METAR/SYNOP) to distinguish them from rain (RA), drizzle (DZ), snow (SN), and snow showers (SHSN). Their presence indicates a cloud-base temperature around or below freezing and sufficient atmospheric moisture.

The Norwegian term snøkorn directly corresponds to the meteorological term snow grains. In weather observations and forecasts for Norwegian and international audiences, snøkorn is used to describe this light, granular snowfall.