Abstract:Using the precipitation data collected in Qingdao from 2006 to 2015, different precipitation types during the winter half year was analyzed. Result shows that the monthly rainfall-day is minimum in January and the snowfall-day is maximum in February. The sleet and rain-snow conversion events take the highest proportion of precipitation days in December and January. Cases study shows that the rain-snow conversion is closely related to cold air intrusion. The temperature and wind field can manifest the characteristics of the rain-snow conversion, especially in the level under 850 hPa where the cooling and wind direction changing are more obvious. Soundings data show that temperature at the 850 hPa, 925 hPa, 1 000 hPa and the ground temperature are good indicators for different precipitation types with the better correlation in the lower level. The level of 0 ℃ temperature is also an indicator for precipitation types, of which the altitude between 100 m and 500 m is the key level for rain-snow conversion. The discrimination of precipitation types in Qingdao mainly depends on the temperature at these key levels.