These Donuts Can Help You Better Understand Precipitation

Who knew that donuts aren't just delicious treats that come in many different variations of flavors, toppings, drizzles, fillings, etc. With everyone consumed with this weekend's wild forecast, one meteorologist is getting our attention by utilizing donuts to help us better understand different types of precipitation we may experience this weekend.

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Hudson Valley Prepares For 'Prolific' Snowstorm

The Hudson Valley, and well beyond, is bracing for a massive snowstorm and extremely low temperatures this weekend, with the potential for anywhere between 12 and 18 inches of snow between Sunday and Monday.

The latest forecast is leaning towards a start time of sometime early on Sunday, likely between 6am and noon, with some areas expected to get upwards of an inch (plus) of accumulation an hour during he worst of the storm, which will hit the area Sunday afternoon and evening. The snow is expected to continue into early Monday and cleanup efforts across the Hudson Valley will extend well beyond that.

There is a Winter Storm Watch in effect for the entire Hudson Valley, and Governor Hochul has also declared a State of Emergency in New York.

SEE ALSO: Updated Forecast Information & Timeline For Upcoming Storm

Do You Know The Difference Between Different Types of Precipitation?

Obviously, snow and other winter weather are not new concepts to us as New Yorkers, however, one meteorologist has done a pretty great job of explaining the difference between types of precipitation that we may see.

Using the graphic below as a reference, donuts are a pretty great way to understand the different types of things we may see falling from the sky.

• Freezing rain: think of a glazed donut, as liquid rain freezes after it hits the ground and creates a glaze on surfaces and trees. It has to hit the freezing mark of 32* or below in order for freezing rain to happen. This is the type of precipitation that will stick to power lines and potentially cause outages.

• Sleet: frozen ice pellets (aka frozen rain) falling from the sky that bounce on impact and create a sprinkle donut effect. Sleet is different from hail, which typically happens during thunderstorms. Sleet can create slick roadways, it doesn't typically cause power outages.

I think snow and rain are pretty self explanatory, rain will just give you a soggy donut (womp womp) and snow will create a beautiful powder sugar dusted donut (that is until plows begin moving, or the neighborhood dog gets outside....)

Leave it to Virginia-based Meteorologist Ricky Matthews to get us New Yorkers to add DONUTS to our list of storm must haves...gotta get the bread, milk, eggs and donuts!