Freezing rain follows a similar journey as sleet, but instead of a thin pocket of warm air, freezing rain falls through a larger pocket of warm air in the middle of its journey. Freezing rain begins as snow, but when it reaches the warm pocket, it melts and becomes rain. - See more at: http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/whats-the-difference-between-snow-sleet-and-freezing-rain/#sthash.5k3VEUGq.dpuf