Weather Impact on SWL

[Blueliner]

As a now and then, a couple short sessions per week SWL listener, I am wondering if weather has a significant impact on signal strength and quality.
Given the same location, antenna, radio, and geomagnetic type conditions, does the local weather impact the hobby?

I "feel" like clear cold evenings, seem to bring in more signals of every type than to rainy evenings.

Thoughts?

 

[w2xq]

Where to start? It isn't just weather. Yes, atmosphere noise and static and seasons affect reception. You are at the beginning of learning about signal propagation, signal absorption and the ionosphere and solar cycles. Under "normal" conditions, higher frequencies travel further in the daytime; lower frequencies travel further at night. Aside from what may be here in the RR wiki and other forum Q&As, you might explore Wikipedia to start with. Unfortunately, unlike the Matrix, there isn't a magic blue or red pill to offer an instant education on the subject.

FWIW, this W2XQ.com : Propagation, Solar & Space Weather webpage may be of interest.

HTH a bit.

 

[w2xq]

After thinking about my answer to your question, I'll add to it a bit.

Atmospheric noise -- thunderstorm/lighning static -- does additionally affect signals. The summers obviously produce more noise than the winters. Even though the weather may be decent at your location, storms attached to weather fronts can generate atmospheric static. My experience? The front could be up to ~1000 miles away.

The seasonal change seems to be relatively quiet in both hemispheres.

If you are listening to lower-frequency stations in the other hemisphere, storms in the other hemisphere can impact the signals.

ChatGPT explains further. "Equatorial regions typically experience storms year-round due to the warm temperatures, high humidity, and convergence of trade winds. These conditions create an ideal environment for the formation of thunderstorms and tropical cyclones, contributing to continuous storm activity."

HTH.

 

[TAC4]

Typically the SWL band it self will only see minor changes due
local terrestrial weather changes with the exception of static crashes due to lightening, but will see significant changes even radio black outs do to solar storm weather out in space (sun) etc.

That said if you have an outdoor antenna it's performance can be significantly effected by local weather in the form of rain, fog or
freezing rain and heavy winds. How do I know this ? 40 years
SWL in the hobby in Canada's 🇨🇦 winter storms and year round weather systems. That is why all my antenna's are in my attic.
The small signal hit (signal strength) loss is worth it, just my
opinion.

 

[WA8ZTZ]

That said if you have an outdoor antenna it's performance can be significantly effected by local weather in the form of rain, fog or
freezing rain and heavy winds.

Yes... precip static, especially wind driven snow.

 

[spongella]

Great question. Weather and seasons are intertwined. Been an SWL over 60+ years (in the USA) , here's my take: there's a seasonal change in shortwave where winters are cold, and those are the best DX listening conditions plus there's a lot less QRN (nature-made noise). Cold winter nights in my opinion were always the best. As for whether the sky was clear, cloudy, snowy or rainy I never took notice. Others may have though.

Summer weather makes SWLing a bit more challenging because of the increased QRN but that's no reason to let dust gather atop your radio .

Hope this helps and have fun.