Topband: Lightning QRN season?

[Tom W8JI]

>
> They do indeed sometimes help reduce the QRN from some thunderstorms,
> particularly if they are in a nearby state (higher angle) and 
> perpendicular
> to the desired direction. But they are only 580' (1λ on 160 and a 3 dB
> beamwidth of 90 degrees). And I do have one Beverage that seems to have a
> degraded F/B ratio, and I need to go out there and check it out.

The top of this page shows what a highly directive antenna with clean 
pattern sounds like in summer:

http://www.w8ji.com/dx_sound_files.htm