How Extreme Weather Affects Your Internet Connection

Extreme weather conditions like heatwaves, snowstorms, and thunderstorms are becoming more common as climate patterns change, and these impacts vary from location to location. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United States has seen a sharp increase in the number of extreme weather events in recent decades. These conditions can have a surprising effect on your Internet connection, causing slow speeds, outages, or even permanent damage to your service.

Understanding how different types of Internet connections react to bad weather or exposure to the elements can help you prepare for storms and heatwaves that may disrupt your connectivity.

How Weather Affects Different Types of Internet Connections

Each type of Internet connection works differently, and the impact of extreme weather depends on the technology it uses. Below is a breakdown of how various types of Internet connections handle heat, cold, storms, and high winds.

Fiber Internet

Fiber optic Internet uses thin strands of glass or plastic to send data as light signals. This makes it one of the most reliable and fastest types of Internet. Though fiber optic lines can be affected by extreme weather conditions, the impact is generally minimal.

• Heat: Extreme heat can cause fiber optic cables to expand or contract, which can lead to minor disruptions in the signal. However, this usually doesn't cause widespread outages.
• Cold: Extremely cold temperatures can cause fiber cables to become brittle and break. However, fiber optic lines are often buried underground, which protects them from the cold, so this is typically not an issue.
• Storms: Fiber optic cables are resistant to rain and storms, as they are less likely to corrode compared to metal cables. Still, if the physical infrastructure, such as power lines, is damaged, fiber connections could be interrupted. Also, if storms and heavy rain lead to natural disasters, such as landslides, this could damage the underground fiber optic cable network. The landslides that occurred in Western North Carolina from Hurricane Helene, for example, caused severe infrastructure damage and major service interruptions.
• High Winds: Since fiber optic cables are often installed underground or in secure locations, they are also less affected by high winds. However, if the physical infrastructure is knocked out during the more extreme wind speeds of a tropical storm, hurricane, or tornado, service may be interrupted.

Broadband Internet

Broadband Internet uses coaxial cables to transmit data. These cables can be vulnerable to inclement weather-related disruptions, especially if they’re exposed to the elements.

• Heat: Extreme heat can cause the cables to expand, which can affect the WiFi signal quality. However, these effects are usually temporary.
• Cold: Repeated freeze and thaw from cold temperatures can cause the cable insulation to crack or degrade over time, which could lead to slower speeds or connectivity issues.
• Storms: Heavy rain or thunderstorms can lead to water infiltration into the cables, which can disrupt the signal. Lightning strikes can also damage the system if the infrastructure is not properly protected.
• High Winds: High winds can knock out power lines and damage the cable infrastructure, leading to service outages.

DSL Internet

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) Internet runs over regular phone lines. Although these lines are generally durable, they can still face challenges during extreme weather.

• Heat: High temperatures can cause phone lines to heat up and expand, which can degrade the quality of the DSL signal.
• Cold: Cold weather can cause the lines to contract, which might also affect the signal. Additionally, frozen water can cause damage to exposed lines.
• Storms: Storms that bring heavy rain or lightning can cause DSL lines to short-circuit or get damaged, leading to service interruptions.
• High Winds: Strong winds can knock down power lines, including those used for DSL connections, which can lead to outages.

Satellite Internet

Satellite Internet relies on signals transmitted from satellites in space to provide service. This connection type is particularly vulnerable to extreme weather conditions.

• Heat: High temperatures can affect the satellite's equipment on the ground, which may lead to a slower connection or even temporary outages.
• Cold: Cold weather can cause snow or ice to build up on the satellite dish, which can block signals. Frozen equipment is also more likely to experience mechanical failure. However, Starlink satellites have a built-in heating/snow melt feature, and there are third-party heaters you can buy for other types of satellites to keep them thawed in the winter.
• Storms: Satellite dishes require a clear shot of the sky to maintain a connection to satellites in space. Thunderstorms, heavy rain, or snowstorms can disrupt the satellite’s signal. The thick clouds and precipitation can block or weaken the signal between the satellite and your dish.
• High Winds: High winds can physically move or misalign the satellite dish, affecting the signal strength or even causing a total loss of connection.

5G/Fixed Wireless

5G and fixed wireless connections use radio waves to transmit data between a receiver and a tower. These connections can be especially sensitive to environmental conditions.

• Heat: High temperatures can affect the performance of the radio equipment, reducing signal strength or causing temporary disruptions.
• Cold: Cold weather typically has little effect on 5G and wireless signals, but snow or ice accumulation on the receiver can block the signal.
• Storms: Heavy rain or snow can weaken the radio waves, reducing the strength of the signal. Thunderstorms and lightning can also cause interruptions.
• High Winds: Strong winds can disrupt the positioning of the receiver or the tower itself, leading to reduced speeds or outages.

Impact of Specific Weather Conditions on Internet Performance

Each type of weather condition can impact your Internet performance differently. Below are explanations of how common and extreme weather events t can affect your connection.

Heatwaves

Heatwaves are prolonged periods of excessively hot weather, often with high humidity, that can last for several days or even weeks. Climate change is increasing the frequency, duration, and intensity of heatwaves due to rising global temperatures, making extreme heat events more common and severe.

During heatwaves, high temperatures can cause cables to expand, leading to a slight degradation in signal quality. While fiber optic and broadband Internet are generally resilient to heat, other systems like satellite and fixed wireless can experience more noticeable disruptions. Heatwaves may also cause power outages that impact all types of Internet connections.

Cold Weather

In cold temperatures, both fiber optic and DSL lines can contract, leading to signal issues. Satellite Internet is particularly vulnerable, as snow and ice can accumulate on the satellite dish, blocking the signal. In some cases, extreme cold can cause mechanical failures in the equipment that handles the signal, leading to outages.

Storms (Rain, Thunderstorms, Snowstorms, Hurricanes)

Climate change is causing more intense and frequent storms by warming the atmosphere and ocean, which increases the amount of moisture available for storms and raises the energy that fuels them. As temperatures rise, storms can become stronger, with more extreme rainfall, higher winds, and greater destructive potential.

Storms, including heavy rain, thunderstorms, and snowstorms, can disrupt nearly all types of Internet connections. Water can infiltrate cables and damage infrastructure. Thunderstorms with lightning pose additional risks, especially for DSL, cable, and wireless connections. Hurricanes can cause significant damage to power lines and communication towers, leading to long-term outages.

High Winds

Strong winds can cause power lines to fall or knock down communication towers, leading to Internet service interruptions. For satellite Internet, high winds can misalign the satellite dish, reducing signal strength or causing a disruption or total loss of connection.

Which Types of Internet Connection Are Best and Worst for Extreme Weather?

When it comes to reliability in extreme weather, fiber Internet tends to be the most reliable. It is resistant to rain, heat, and cold, and is often buried underground, offering protection from high winds and storms. Broadband Internet (which often is fiber-based) is next in line for reliability, but it can be impacted by water damage and wind. DSL is less reliable in extreme weather, especially in areas with high winds or heavy rain. Satellite Internet is the most vulnerable to weather disruptions, particularly rain, snow, and high winds. 5G/Fixed Wireless is also somewhat affected by storms and high winds, though it can offer a more reliable connection in certain rural areas compared to satellite Internet.

Tips for Maintaining Connectivity During Severe Weather

Severe weather can disrupt your Internet service, but there are a few ways to stay connected:

• Install a backup power source: Use a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) to keep your modem and router running during power outages.
• Use a mobile hotspot: Keep a backup mobile hotspot or tethering option available in case your primary connection goes down.
• Protect your equipment from heat: Keep your router in a cool, dry place to prevent overheating during a heatwave.
• Check for weather-related outage alerts: Many ISPs offer alerts to let you know about outages due to weather.
• Consider a surge protector: Install a surge protector to protect your equipment from lightning strikes or power surges during storms.

What To Do (and Not Do) if Your Internet Is Affected by Weather

If your Internet speed or service is disrupted by weather, below are some simple guidelines to follow.

What to Do

• Check the status: Look for outage notifications from your Internet service provider.
• Power cycle your equipment: Restart your modem and router to reset the connection.
• Inspect physical connections: Ensure all cables are securely connected to your devices.

What Not to Do

• Don't panic: Temporary outages are often resolved quickly.
• Avoid using the Internet during lightning storms: There are risks related to using wired devices during a storm.
• Don’t attempt to repair damaged cables yourself: Contact a professional to avoid further damage.

Find the Right Internet Connection for Your Home

SmartMove can help you compare a range of Internet options so you can find the best service for your home, including fiber, broadband, DSL, and wireless solutions. Whether you're looking for high-speed broadband options, reliability, or cost-effectiveness, SmartMove can help you select the ideal home WiFi connection so you have reliable Internet — no matter the weather.