Apparatus and associated methods relate to detecting cloud conditions from a distance by generating a polarized microwave-frequency electromagnetic pulse and evaluating various reflected wave parameters pertaining to a corresponding cloud-reflected microwave-frequency electromagnetic reflection. Various cloud metrics can be calculated using these collected wave parameters. The microwave-frequency pulses can be scanned over multiple dimensions, using a steered beam arrangement which will lead to the ability to scanning a conical sector of the space in front of the aircraft. These collected multi-dimensional wave parameters can then be used to generate multi-dimensional maps of cloud metrics. Such cloud metrics can include relative velocities of moving cloud conditions in the flight direction, particle density distributions, ice/water ratios, estimates of particle side distributions, etc.