In weather observations you will notice that for the precipitation type there can be adjectives for the intensity. Two intensity descriptions are light and heavy. If the intensity is moderate then no adjective will be given. Below are precipitation rates from drizzle, rain, snow and ice pellets by intensity. Note that snow and drizzle rates are based on visibility and not on precipitation accumulation. Ice pellets can use either a precipitation rate or visibility reduction. Light Drizzle: Drizzle in which the visibility from the drizzle is still greater than 0.5 mile Drizzle: Drizzle in which the visibility from the drizzle is in a range from 0.25 and 0.5 mile Heavy Drizzle: Drizzle in which the visibility from the drizzle is less than 0.25 mile Light Rain: A rain rate of 0.10 inches per hour or less Rain: A rain rate of 0.11 to 0.30 inches per hour Heavy Rain: A rain rate of 0.31 inches per hour or greater Light Snow: Snow in which the visibility from the snow is still greater than 0.5 mile Snow: Snow in which the visibility from the snow is in a range from 0.25 and 0.5 mile Heavy Snow: Snow in which the visibility from the snow is less than 0.25 mile Light Ice Pellets: An accumulation of 0.10 inches per hour or less; OR not much of a restriction in visibility due to the ice pellets Ice Pellets: An accumulation of 0.11 to 0.30 inches per hour; OR visibility less than 7 miles due to the ice pellets Heavy Ice Pellets: An accumulation of 0.31 inches per hour or greater; OR visibility less than 3 miles due to the ice pellets |