What's that on the radar? Flying ants swarm the sky

Did you know that flying ants rely on the weather, and can interfere with radar signals?

Throughout the course of several days each summer, we witness “Flying Ant Day”. No, it's not an official day on our calendars, but it is extremely noticeable, and it's when ants take to the air to mate.

The last "Flying Ant Day" occurred on July 9th of this year, and sightings began again on August 10th.

Usually, unwanted signals and noise are filtered out by the radar systems, however on some occasions they can still slip through. In the case of flying ants, the swarms can be so large that it gets picked up as what we call "false echoes" on the radar.

On the radar, it tends to look like light rain or drizzle, when on days like recently, it's clear blue skies. However, the reflectivity often looks different to actual raindrops, sometimes spanning several miles, so Meteorologists are able to spot the errors.

"Flying Ant Day" often occurs during the summer months, as the weather plays a big part in their mating. It usually takes place when the weather is dry, warm, not too windy, and after a little rain.

The rain helps to soften up the soil for new ant nests, while the queen ants and males leave their nest when the temperature is higher.

Cities tend to see greater swarms than rural areas, due to the heat concentration, or Urban Heat Island effect.

So, while you may be happy the weather is warming, the swarms of flying ants in your face are likely to be an unwelcomed addition. The good news is, it only tends to last a few days.