How does weather affect CB radio signals?

The Hard Work of Rain and Moisture

Rain and moisture are like those sneaky gremlins that can mess with your CB radio in ways you wouldn't expect. Most people think that rain might just make driving hard but moisture can also cause radio signals to scatter and fade.

When radio waves hit raindrops they scatter like when you throw a handful of pebbles into a pond. The signals get messed up which makes the signal on the other end weaker. But here's something interesting this usually only becomes clear during very heavy rain or storms.

Humidity is another thing to think about. Radio waves can lose strength when the air is very humid. So if you live in a tropical area where the air is heavy and wet you are more likely to have problems with interference. The National Institute of Standards and Technology has information on how weather affects transmission for a more technical view.

The Windy Factor Snow and Hail

You might not think of snow or hail as things that affect radio signals but they do. It's strange but they don't block signals directly. They don't directly block signals instead they change the conditions in the environment that cause signals to be interrupted.

Snow acts as insulation in the winter by blocking sound and to some extent slowing down the spread of signals. The density and water content of snow can make it hard for signals to get through. It's a little like talking through a thick blanket you can hear it but it's not as loud.

Hail brings with it a whole new set of problems. It's not so much the ice itself as the chaos in the air that comes with big hailstorms. Strong winds and a kind of static in the air are common in intense storms. This "atmospheric noise" makes it harder for CB communications to be clear.