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Being a farmer, acts of nature are of the utmost importance in Stardew Valley. The most notable of these, which will change players' day-to-day behavior, is the weather. There is a multitude of different weather effects in the game. Some of them are simply aesthetic, while others will affect the player's schedule for that day.
The first 4 days in the game have scripted weather. Days 1, 2, and 4 are guaranteed to be sunny, while day 3 is guaranteed to be rainy. After that, the weather is completely randomized, and players must adapt accordingly. Thankfully, there is a weather channel on the TV, which tells players what the weather will be like the next day. Regardless, no matter what the weather proves to be on a particular day, knowing what to expect from the game's weather system is handy information to possess, especially for beginners just learning the ropes.
5 Sunny - The Default Setting
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When the sun is shining, everything is completely normal in Stardew Valley. This is the most common weather effect and the only one that can naturally occur in all four of the game's seasons. On sunny days, crops will need to be watered, and there is plenty of work that needs to be done.
The upside is the world is generally much brighter. Villagers will stick to their regular routine on sunny days, and any animals on the farm will happily come outside and roam the farm in any season other than Winter. As such, players should make the most out of sunny days and try to put a dent into some of that workload!
4 Raining - A Day Off
Rain is the second most common weather effect, and, at least during the early game, it's an effect players will be glad to see. Its main benefit is that it will automatically water all of the player's crops, meaning it's one less task for players who don't yet have sprinklers set up.
Villagers tend to stay inside more on rainy days, which can be a problem if players want to see someone specific, but the positives outweigh the negatives. Rain is the only weather effect that can be summoned through the use of a Rain Totem, which will guarantee rain the following day. Rain does not naturally occur during Winter, but a Rain Totem will force it. It's also worth noting that certain types of fish can be caught while it's raining, which makes it a prime activity to partake in if players have the time.
3 Wind - Quite Pretty
Wind is one of the game's purely aesthetic weather effects, however, there are some interesting things about it. Firstly, it's a weather effect that can only occur in the Spring or Fall. Secondly, the visual form of the weather differs depending on which season it is.
In Spring, a windy day will see pink petals blowing across the screen in a rather pretty sight. In Fall, these petals change to brown and dying leaves to emulate the trees being stripped bare in the lead up to Winter. Each effect has a different type of beauty, but both add to the feeling of a complete ecosystem in the Valley.
2 Snow - Snow Day!
The ground during Winter is usually covered with snow anyway, but it's always nice to see a fresh layer falling from the sky. Much like the wind, snow doesn't have any effect on gameplay. It is just there to inject a bit of life into the world and a bit of joy into players' hearts.
Any winter seeds that are placed will still need to be watered on a snow day, and most villagers will stick to their regular routines. There have been some complaints from players that the visual effect of snow makes it too hard to see, but there is an option in the settings to adjust its transparency.
1 Storms - Harness The Lightning
On the surface, stormy days look like rainy days with a bit more flavor. However, there's much more than meets the eye. Firstly, the only other days where the weather is guaranteed (not counting Festival days) are stormy days. Summer 13 and Summer 26 will always be stormy days every year. That said, there is still a random chance for storms on every other day in Spring, Summer, and Fall.
During stormy days, lightning may randomly strike and destroy tiles on the farm. The only thing they can't destroy is chests, so after a storm, it's worth checking trees, fences, crops, and floor tiles to see if anything has been damaged. There is a significant advantage to storms, though, as if players have crafted any Lightning Rods, they can intercept a lightning strike, which not only stops it from destroying a tile but allows it to start producing a Battery Pack.
Stardew Valley is currently available on Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS Vita & Xbox One.