graupel
/ˈɡraʊpəl/
noun
- Soft, small pellets of ice that form when snowflakes are coated with freezing water droplets; also called soft hail or snow pellets.
- Graupel looks like tiny Styrofoam balls and is often mistaken for hail.
- The weather forecast warned of graupel falling in the mountains this afternoon.
- We heard a gentle tapping on the window as graupel bounced off the glass.