What weather condition can impact RADAR range?

Rain and other precipitation significantly affect RADAR range due to the attenuation of the radar signals. When radar waves travel through raindrops or other forms of precipitation, they can be absorbed or scattered, leading to a reduction in the strength of the returned signal. This effect is particularly pronounced with heavy rainfall but can also occur with lighter precipitation. As the intensity of the precipitation increases, the radar's ability to accurately detect and measure targets diminishes, effectively reducing its operational range.

While other factors such as wind, temperature, and cloud cover can influence radar operation, their effects are generally less direct or pronounced compared to the impact of precipitation. For instance, wind can cause movement of targets or affect the stability of radar systems but does not fundamentally change the propagation characteristics of radar signals. Temperature can affect the refractive index of the air and consequently the radar wave propagation, but these effects are typically small and do not lead to a significant impact on radar range in the same way that precipitation does. Cloud cover might obscure some radar signals, but it affects visibility and not the operational range as distinctly as rain or heavy snow would.