Seeing as drones equal flight, you would think that the weather wouldn’t be a massive consideration. After all, drones should be able to withstand most weather effects, right? Well, the truth is that drones and adverse weather don’t really mix.
While they can withstand some heat, cold, and wind, drones aren’t really built to fly in the snow, during heatwaves, or during thunderstorms. But it’s not all bad news – or rain and gloom. Let’s take a look at how weather and drones work together.
How Does the Weather Affect Drone Flying?
There are several weather factors that can affect a drone flight operation. So let’s take a quick look at what each type of weather effect can reasonably do:
Heat: Flying in direct sunlight and hot temperatures can mess with the drone’s camera feed and its battery. Temperatures that go upward of 100 F (37.7 C) can fry the drone’s internal wiring and make the battery overheat, shortening its life considerably.
Cold: Just like scorching heat, extremely low temperatures can also damage a drone. Cold temperatures can reduce the chemical activity in the drone’s lithium polymer (LiPo) batteries. This can limit the battery’s power output and shorten the drone’s flight time. Most commercial drones aren’t designed to fly well in temperatures below 32 F (0 C).
Rain: Consumer drones aren’t waterproof, which means moisture can seep into the body and damage the equipment.
Fog: Like rain, fog can let moisture seep into the drone. But the bigger threat with fog is that it makes the drone harder to see, which can result in a crash.
Wind: Drones aren’t generally powerful enough to handle high-speed winds.
Snow: Just like rain and fog, snow obviously equals moisture, and since drones aren’t waterproof, they can’t handle snow. On top of that, snow equals low temperatures which can damage the drone’s batteries.
Can a Drone Fly in the Rain?
While a drone won’t necessarily crash and burn when taking off in the rain, moisture isn’t great news for a drone. If even a bit of moisture gets into the electronics housed inside the drone’s frame, it could lead to serious damage. Possibly a crash if the moisture wreaks enough havoc.
So even though it is technically possible to fly in the rain, the potential for moisture damage is too high so it’s not recommended. Instead, try to keep an eye on the weather beforehand and pick a date and time that’s more likely to be dry.
Also, be on the lookout for high or low temperatures and fog while you’re at it. As mentioned above, extreme temperatures can cause harm to a drone and its components. When flying a drone, you want clear skies and moderate temperatures with low winds.
Of course, that isn’t always possible. So take care when flying and if it feels like you’re struggling to see your drone properly or starting to lose control, land it instead to avoid a crash.
How to Check the Weather for Drone Flying
There are plenty of fantastic weather apps out there that provide detailed predictions for every hour of the day. This includes windspeeds, temperature, and chance of rain. Some, like UAV Forecast, are specifically for drone pilots.
