Viewers baffled as BBC predicts 'snow grains' rather than snowflakes

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But weathermen have surpassed themselves with their latest piece of jargon.

BBC television and radio forecasters have been predicting "snow grains" over higher parts of Britain – rather than the more conventional snowflakes.

The expression appears to have left viewers and listeners baffled and led to a flurry of complaints.

Yesterday, the Met Office insisted that the term, which describes a type of fine hail, is technically correct – but conceded that it couldleave viewers and listeners unnecessarily confused. Dave Britton of the Met Office said: "Snowflakes and snow grains are different things.

"A snow grain is a grain of ice that looks a little like a grain of rice.

"It is 1mm (0.03in) in diameter – and it's like a type of snow drizzle.

"A snowflake is a made up of ice crystals – and can be up to 2.5cm across.

"Snowflakes and snow grains have always existed side by side, and there's been no policy to change how snow is described.

"But BBC weather forecasters may be confusing the public by talking about snow grains."

Snow grains are smaller and flatter than normal hail.

They are relatively rare in the UK and tend to fall when it is cold and the sky is covered with a flat, uniform grey cloud.

Only small amounts fall at one time and they never form showers.

Hail is produced inside thunder clouds and is made from solid ice.

It occurs when ice pellets falling from the top of a cloud collect a layer of moisture.

This freezes when the pellets are carried back to the top of a cloud. Once they are heavy enough, they fall to the ground.

Last night, the BBC declined to say which presenters had discussed snow grains.

Its TV forecasters – such as Nina Ridge, Alex Deakin, Susan Powell and Elizabeth Saary – are qualified meteorologists who go through a four-month training programme before going on air.

A BBC spokesman said: "Snow grains is the technically correct term.

"However, we can reassure people that it is not the death of the snowflake – and we are not going to see reports next year about the build-up of snow grains on the railways."