The influence of weather conditions on drones

Drones are very sensitive to weather conditions. An analysis is necessary before a flight in order to preserve the integrity of its drone.

Is the wind dangerous for a drone?

The wind is a factor that should not be overlooked to preserve your drone and guarantee optimal safety. There is no fixed figure as to the wind speed for a drone. The maximum speed to fly a drone depends mainly on the type of drone you have. Depending on the models and brands, the maximum wind limit is between 13 km/h for the most fragile in the wind and around 50 km/h for the most resistant.  

In addition, if the wind is fairly stable, it will be easier to control your drone, however if the wind is gusty, then it will be difficult to compensate for it and you could risk a crash.

As you will have understood, the influence of the wind on your drone really depends on it, by its weight, its size, its wind resistance, its ability to compensate for movements, etc. It is best to refer directly to your manufacturer's instructions to ensure that you meet the conditions requested by the manufacturer.

Can rain harm drones?

Drones and rain are not compatible, however some drones hold up better. It depends on the motor used in your drone. A brushed motor is more affected by humidity. Whereas a brushless or brushless motor is much less sensitive. 

However, as a general rule, avoid flying your drone when it is raining or the ground is wet. 

A small drop of water that enters the electrical circuit of your drone can cause a short circuit. It is therefore preferable to take all the precautions regarding humidity, rain and even snow, the latter would bring a new factor: the cold.

Can I fly my drone when it's cold?

Yes, flying in cold weather is possible however, it is an important factor to monitor before and during your flight. Like the factors mentioned above, sensitivity to cold depends on your drone. 

For drones dating from around 2015, we can agree that they should not be flown below 0°C. For the most recent drones, we can reach -10°C without greatly impacting autonomy. 

This is due to the batteries used and their chemical compounds. The new generations better assimilate low temperatures and are sometimes composed of self-heating batteries, allowing them to withstand low temperatures more easily and longer.

The cold therefore influences the capacity of the battery and therefore the performance in flight. This impact reduces your autonomy in flight, we estimate that a temperature below 0°C will reduce the autonomy of a drone by 5 %. A 20-minute flight could turn into 16 minutes, then the lower the temperature, the more your battery will be impacted and therefore your flight time will also be greatly reduced. You could risk a complete shutdown of your battery and therefore a crash. 

So take your steps by keeping your battery warm before the flight and monitoring the parameters of your drone during its flight. If in doubt, do not make the flight, it remains safer. 

In summary, drones can fly even in difficult conditions, however, you should always analyze the performance of your drone to meet the manufacturer's recommendations. The drone remains a robust tool which has points of weakness. It is necessary to identify these points and avoid getting too close to them in order to preserve the integrity of the latter.

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These factors oblige Allumee to take all precautions in terms of safety by analyzing the weather conditions to best adapt our service.

Our drones are designed to fly for 25 minutes, however we are reducing the time of our shows to a maximum of 20 minutes to ensure optimal safety for our spectators and to compensate for any unforeseen event.

Everything is done to guarantee a perfectly executed show that will delight our audience in every way.

Allumee adapts very well to adverse weather conditions such as thunderstorms. We let the storm cell pass and we can start the show.