Like any good simulation game, Stardew Valley has randomized weather that changes from day to day, all through the seasons. Other than giving the game a realistic sense of weather, it affects things like farming, fishing, and other game aspects.
The weather changes from day to day as well as with the seasons and it’s handy to know when bad weather is around the corner. Thankfully there’s the TV screen that shows the weather prediction for the next day, which helps players coordinate their plans for the day ahead. In addition, there are also Rain Totems that players can utilize to usher on a rainy day when needed.
Here’s a handy guide to all the weather types in Stardew Valley and the various effects each type has.
8 Sun
Bright sunshine is the most common type of weather in Stardew Valley, taking up the bulk of Spring, Summer, and Fall, and about half of Winter. On bright, clear days, there are often lots of wild, forageable items spread throughout the map in any of the three seasons.
Additionally, all common fish are available to catch, besides ones that are specific to certain times of the day. Everyone’s schedules are pretty steady on sunny days as well, so if players need to get in touch with certain townsfolk it will be a lot easier to find where they are. What can be better than strolling around town and tending crops on a warm, sunny day?
7 Rain
Rainy days are both convenient and gloomy. What’s nice is the rain automatically waters all outdoor crops, which can save players loads of time. But all crops in the greenhouse are unaffected by the rain and still need to be watered. When it rains, all animals will stay inside their barns, which makes total sense.
In addition, during rainfall specific types of fish can be caught, which makes it a great time to round out some Fishing achievements. Rain also alters some of the townsfolk’s schedules, so pay attention to where they are when it rains. For example, Sebastian goes to the beach when it rains, as fitting to his character.
6 Wind (Spring)
Wind, also known as pollen, looks different in the Spring than it does in the Fall. It’s basically a normal, sunny day but with pretty flower petals falling from the sky, replicating the effect of wind blowing.
Wind doesn’t change too much about the game, besides the aesthetic of the day. It’s a nice, stylistic touch that brings texture and quality to Stardew Valley.
5 Wind (Fall)
Similar to Wind in the Spring, Wind in the Fall is just like a normal day except with leaves falling and blowing around. Again, it brings a really nice aspect to the game and creates an ambiance that is perfect for Fall.
Characters’ schedules are not altered and foraging is the same as a regular, sunny day. Windy weather is simply an aesthetic feature in the game that provides no changes to any of the features.
4 Storm
Stormy weather includes all the same attributes as Rainy weather, except with a few more features. Storms in Stardew Valley are characterized by lightning strikes that occur throughout the day. The lightning can cause trees to fall and crops to be destroyed, which is definitely not a great thing for a well-put-together farm.
The irony is that Storms will still water outdoor crops, even though there’s a possibility it can destroy them. Storms also usher in special fish that can only be caught on these days, which makes them great days to get away from the farm and pull out the fishing rod. In addition, only on Stormy days will the Old Mariner appear, just in case players are on the path towards marriage.
3 Snow
Snowy days make up most of the Winter season when it’s not otherwise sunny. Its transparency can be changed in the Options menu, which is a nice feature, just in case players want it to be extra snowy. This type of weather doesn’t change too many features of the game, but it is worth noting that Winter seeds still need to be watered on these days.
Falling snow doesn’t have the same effect as falling rain, so Winter seeds need to be watered throughout the winter.
2 Festival
Fitting for Festivals, the weather type on these days will always be clear and sunny, even for the Festivals in the Winter, Feast of the Winter Star, and the Festival of Ice. This is a nice aspect of the game, as these Festivals are times to take stock of the game or just have fun and not be focused on day-to-day tasks.
Sunny, clear weather is appropriate for the Festival days, especially in the Spring and Summer. While it does take away the randomness and accuracy of the game, it does make for very pleasant Festivals.
1 Wedding Day
One would think that Wedding Days would be sunny and bright, like the Festivals, but unfortunately, the weather follows the randomized algorithm like any other day. This means it’s possible that a players’ Wedding Day could be stormy, rainy, or even snowy.
If a Wedding Day falls on a Festival Day, the little heart icon will not appear, which is also kind of a bummer. While the randomized weather makes for a more accurate depiction of Weddings, it would always be nice for a bright, sunny day.
NEXT: Stardew Valley: Complete Guide And Walkthrough
