It’s science: Why noises travel farther and sound louder during the winter

Caroline AylwardCaitlin Kaiser
ByCaroline AylwardandCaitlin Kaiser•
October 1, 2026Updated: October 1, 2026, 5:30 am EDTPublished: October 1, 2026, 5:30 am EDT

On a cold, calm morning, sounds like a train horn or a barking dog can sound louder than usual — and there's real weather science behind it. There's a surprisingly simple explanation hiding in the air right over your head to explain why noises of all kinds seem louder and carry farther in the winter. Here's what's really going on.

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