[Scan-DC] Weather Radio Question

[William Rossiter III]

Hey all,

Climbed a hill today in Gaithersburg with my handheld.  Got bored listening
to police so I tuned to the weather bands.  I tuned into 162.500 MHz.  That
station call letters were WXK97.  After research, i found out that this
station broadcasts from a tower in Sudlersville MD.  This is on the Delmarva
Penisula.  The station runs 1000 watts.

My question is.  Was I able to hear this station because I was on a really
high hill, and will I be able to always hear it on this hill?, or was it
because of some atmosphereic thing?Maybe the thunderstorms opened up the
atmosphere for long distance DXing? (But then again, doesnt this only happen
for frequencies below 30 MHz).

Can anyone help me out?

-Bill