Cloud coverage also impacts noise perception. On cloudy days, noise can seem louder as it is generated from the aircraft and rebounds to the surface of the earth from the bottom of the clouds. In warm weather, aircraft climb more slowly, making operations louder on the ground.

Yes, clouds can make airplanes sound significantly louder to people on the ground due to a phenomenon called acoustic reflection. When a plane flies below a low, dense cloud ceiling, the sound waves from the engines hit the bottom of the clouds and reflect back toward the earth instead of dissipating into the upper atmosphere. This creates a "tunnel effect" or an echo chamber that can amplify the perceived volume by several decibels. Additionally, cloudy weather is often associated with higher humidity; moist air is more "thermally uniform" and can sometimes allow sound to travel more efficiently than dry air. Furthermore, in 2026, pilots flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) may be forced to stay at lower altitudes to remain clear of the cloud base, which physically places the aircraft closer to your ears, further increasing the noise level compared to a clear day when they might climb higher.