A long-range cloud conditions detector configured to be mounted on an aircraft comprising: a pulse generator configured to generate an electrical emission signal; a polarizing antenna electrically coupled to the pulse generator, the polarizing antenna configured to: emit a polarized microwave-frequency electromagnetic pulse in response to receiving, from the pulse generator, the electrical emission signal; sense a microwave-frequency electromagnetic reflection corresponding to the emitted polarized microwave-frequency electromagnetic pulse reflected by a cloud, the microwave-frequency electromagnetic reflection having a first component of a first polarization and a second component of a second polarization different from the first polarization; and generate first and second electrical detection signals corresponding to the first and second components of the sensed microwave-frequency electromagnetic reflection, respectively; and first and second signal-processing channels (28, 30), each electrically coupled to the polarizing antenna, the first and second signal-processing channels configured to receive, from the polarizing antenna, the first and second detection signals, respectively, each of the first and second signal-processing channels including: a pulse/reflection delay timer (32, 34) configured to generate a signal indicative of a time difference between the electrical emission signal and the received electrical detection signal; a signal strength module (38, 40) configured to generate a signal indicative of a signal strength of the received electrical detection signal; and a decay-rate module (42, 44) configured to generate a signal indicative of a rate of decay of the received electrical detection signal; and a liquid water content module configured to calculate a liquid water content of the cloud, based on the signal indicative of the rate of decay and the signal indicative of the signal strength. a pulse generator configured to generate an electrical emission signal; a polarizing antenna electrically coupled to the pulse generator, the polarizing antenna configured to: emit a polarized microwave-frequency electromagnetic pulse in response to receiving, from the pulse generator, the electrical emission signal; sense a microwave-frequency electromagnetic reflection corresponding to the emitted polarized microwave-frequency electromagnetic pulse reflected by a cloud, the microwave-frequency electromagnetic reflection having a first component of a first polarization and a second component of a second polarization different from the first polarization; and generate first and second electrical detection signals corresponding to the first and second components of the sensed microwave-frequency electromagnetic reflection, respectively; and emit a polarized microwave-frequency electromagnetic pulse in response to receiving, from the pulse generator, the electrical emission signal; sense a microwave-frequency electromagnetic reflection corresponding to the emitted polarized microwave-frequency electromagnetic pulse reflected by a cloud, the microwave-frequency electromagnetic reflection having a first component of a first polarization and a second component of a second polarization different from the first polarization; and generate first and second electrical detection signals corresponding to the first and second components of the sensed microwave-frequency electromagnetic reflection, respectively; and first and second signal-processing channels (28, 30), each electrically coupled to the polarizing antenna, the first and second signal-processing channels configured to receive, from the polarizing antenna, the first and second detection signals, respectively, each of the first and second signal-processing channels including: a pulse/reflection delay timer (32, 34) configured to generate a signal indicative of a time difference between the electrical emission signal and the received electrical detection signal; a signal strength module (38, 40) configured to generate a signal indicative of a signal strength of the received electrical detection signal; and a decay-rate module (42, 44) configured to generate a signal indicative of a rate of decay of the received electrical detection signal; and a liquid water content module configured to calculate a liquid water content of the cloud, based on the signal indicative of the rate of decay and the signal indicative of the signal strength. a pulse/reflection delay timer (32, 34) configured to generate a signal indicative of a time difference between the electrical emission signal and the received electrical detection signal; a signal strength module (38, 40) configured to generate a signal indicative of a signal strength of the received electrical detection signal; and a decay-rate module (42, 44) configured to generate a signal indicative of a rate of decay of the received electrical detection signal; and a liquid water content module configured to calculate a liquid water content of the cloud, based on the signal indicative of the rate of decay and the signal indicative of the signal strength.