Wintry mix revealed in the circled letters (it's the puzzle theme!)

Question:

Answer:

SLEET

Length:

Similar Crossword Questions:

Welcome mat spot (our puzzle title hints at the theme revealed by the pattern of circled squares)
Creature suggested by this puzzle's circled letters
Office building problem that's a hint to this puzzle's theme entries (see their last three letters)
Period that ends Nov. 3rd, requiring a shift, and letters that shift in this puzzle's theme entries
Conflict, and a hint to unraveling the puzzle's circled letters
Ones whose names are spelled by this puzzle's circled letters ... with representatives of two realms "wrestling" for supremacy
Snaking, like the arrangement of circled letters in this puzzle
"Home work" letters that appear at both ends of this puzzle's theme answers
The works ... or how each set of circled letters in this puzzle is arranged
Artwork using both paint and collage, e.g. ... and a hint to this puzzle's circled letters
Staff members, and what the circled letters in this puzzle represent
Secret military mission ... or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle?
Party snack (and a hint to this puzzle's circled letters)
Internet letters, and a hint to this puzzle's theme
Thing depicted by this puzzle's circled letters
Light lunch (and a hint to this puzzle's circled letters)
First of a pair of letters swapped six times in this puzzle's theme entries
Long-running game show with a feature spelled out clockwise by this puzzle's circled letters
Type of gear on which the letters in this puzzle's nine theme squares are arrayed
Nitpick, and what this puzzle's circled letters represent
Letters featured in this puzzle's theme
Characteristic of this puzzle's circled letters, which suggest a 1991 Oscar-winning film
Classic rap outfit whose more famous members are circled in this puzzle's theme answers
Letters for the names "buried" in this puzzle's theme answers
The pairs of letters inserted into each of this puzzle's theme answers, for example