How does adverse weather impact radar performance?

Adverse weather significantly impacts radar performance by causing signal scattering or attenuation. In conditions such as rain, fog, snow, or heavy cloud cover, the radar signals can be disrupted as they travel through these environments. For instance, rain and snow can absorb and scatter the radar waves, which may reduce the signals' strength and clarity.

This scattering leads to weaker returns and can create inaccuracies in speed detection, as the radar system relies on receiving reflected signals to calculate the speed of moving vehicles. Thus, understanding that adverse weather can degrade radar performance is crucial for law enforcement and other agencies utilizing this technology to ensure they are interpreting speed data accurately, especially during challenging weather conditions.