Radar echoes, but no precip

[blizzard]

Hello

Why is when I often look at the weather radar, it shows radar echoes in my area but no precip is falling?

Is it a fault with the local radar station, an issue with the particular software or something else?

It's especially frustrating in the summer when I am banking on thunderstorms in the area.

 

[wxmanjerry]

It`s likely just virga. The dewpoints across the region give a clue. If the air is too dry at the surface, any precipitation falling is just evaporating. All this also depends on the angle of the particular radar.

It often starts to reach the surface soon once the airmass moistens up - ie the dewpoint gets closer to the surface temperature. This is a common thing during the winter.

There are also other oddities such as clutter from buildings, topography, even birds and bugs!

 

[blizzard]

Thank you for the explanation