The Impact of Bad Weather on Your Internet Connections

Do you feel like bad weather slows your Wi-Fi down? It might not be the rain and snow to blame. 

When you need it to, there is almost nothing more annoying than the technology not working. You might try watching movies on a rainy day when you can't play outside, but sometimes your link seems just as bogged down by the bad weather as you are. Would the mist have obstructed cyberspace? Is snow freezing the circuits of your system? Is the weather affecting internet speeds? 

If you're worried that adverse weather conditions are negatively affecting your internet, read this before calling a service expert. The issue may be less connected to the weather than you expect.

Why internet connection is slowing down in bad weather? 
A pair of causes and results may appear to be bad weather and slow internet. Data from light-pole-based public Wi-Fi communities shows that rainy days have had an effect on signal quality. According to Techwalla, while rainfall may generate interference, much the same as limiting visibility for human eyes, attenuation due to distance from the router is a much more probable culprit for low signal intensity. 

During those snowstorms and thunder-ridden nights that are triggering your internet slowdowns, here's what is really happening.

Heavy web traffic to blame for slow network 

A weak internet connection on a bad weather day is possibly due to high-traffic volume instead of the weather itself. They are more likely to be online as more people are stuck at home, entertaining themselves by surfing, streaming, and gaming. 

The temperature has no impact on internet speed 

Copper and fiber optic wires are not prone to cold, but ground heaves can be caused by extremely low temperatures, which can damage or tear underground wires. According to Bustle, "physical damage to Wi-Fi conduits and an overflow of users are offshoot causes of weather-related Wi-Fi issues." 

High temperatures, on the other hand, may cause overheating of your equipment (e.g., router, modem). Because cooling and the overheated computer are more difficult than heating a cold one, an overheated Wi-Fi system can work a bit slower than normal.

Physical damage to internet infrastructure can be caused by major storms 

Higher weather conditions will cause greater physical harm to your internet infrastructures, such as high winds, heavy snowfall, and other major storms. Trees can fall on power lines, satellite dishes can be knocked over by debris and floodwaters can seep through electrical systems. If your internet fails during a major storm, however, you will probably know why straight away! 

What do I do if my internet connection is disrupted by the weather? 
Do not panic if you think that your internet is functioning slowly or has shut down! Here are the Dos and Don'ts! 

Dos

1. Try to reset or unplug your router and/or modem and wait a moment before you plug them back in. 

2. Move yourself closer to your router. Often, it will help repair a poor internet connection by only reducing the distance between your laptop and your router. 

3. Have other devices checked. If your machine is attached, but your phone is not, your system will be involved in the problem, not your network. 

Don't: 

1. Don't try it yourself to fix it. Let the technology be handled by a technician. 

2. Until the weather is good, don't go outside. Contact a technician if you see any downed power lines, debris in your satellite dish or other technical issues. Make sure that you contact the power provider to report any outages or problems.

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