Can a drone fly in strong winds?

We'll give you some important tips on flying a drone in windy conditions and how to determine whether to take flight when strong winds are forecast.

The weather is sunny and warm, but forecasts predict relatively high winds, and you're hesitant if it’s worth risking flying your favorite drone in open spaces. It's a dilemma most drone owners face. Mostly, this happens to novice pilots who don't have enough experience and struggle to properly evaluate the limits of the drone they've recently purchased. But just how strong wind is considered too strong?

That depends on the specifications of your drone. Many drone models can fly in the presence of wind, but each machine has different capabilities. The basic rule is that the limits of the capabilities of these devices are determined by the weight, power, type of propellers, and the speed they can develop during flight. In conditions when the wind is stronger than two-thirds of the machine's maximum speed, flying is risky. So before you go out and fly your drone in wind, check what its specifications are.

At what wind speed can the drone fly?

No matter what the price is and how advanced your drone is, you should keep in mind that it has a capability threshold and cannot normally fly in all conditions. Some models can fly in stronger winds, while others can fly in light to normal wind conditions. What exactly does this mean?

Commercial drones can mostly fly at wind speeds between 15 and 45 km/h. Therefore, larger and more durable models with larger propellers are more stable and could fly well even in 40-45km/h winds. By this logic, small flying machines are more stable in lighter winds. In any case, do not undertake a flight when strong winds above 45km/h are forecast.

What can happen if you fly your drone in high winds?

You are probably asking yourself what might happen if you decide to take a flight despite a forecast of strong winds. We'll list the potential dangers of doing so.

1. Danger when taking off

In the beginning, when you lift the drone off the ground, it hasn't gained enough power yet, and the propellers are in the process of gaining speed. If the wind is strong at this point, it is very likely that the device will lose stability and even end up crashing into an object.

2. Overheating and propeller failure

When the drone is in the air, strong gusts of wind can cause it to deviate from its horizontal position. In addition, the machine will use more energy to stay in its normal position, which can cause overheating and damage to the propellers and motors.

3. Loss of control

When the drone uses more electricity to stay in the air and resist the wind speed, the batteries will run out faster. At some point, the charge may not be enough, and you may lose control of the machine. Even if that doesn't happen, too much wind could blow the drone away and cause a crash.

4. Landing hazard

There is also a danger to you and your drone when landing. To land the machine, you need to keep it stable and control its movements carefully. In strong winds, the landing may be so affected that it could end catastrophically.

These are the real dangers for the drone, yourself, and others when piloting in windy conditions. Even if you try to avoid them, the weather can often change. Particularly when flying at the altitude, at which you are elevating your drone, it is likely that strong gusts of wind will suddenly appear, or that the forecast will be okay for lower altitudes but the situation may be totally different at 50 meters high. It is, therefore, good to know how to react in such situations.

How to operate a drone in windy weather?

The following tips will help you be more prepared for weather changes:

• When you need to take off or land your drone, stand between the drone and the wind so you can limit gusts. This will help the machine maintain its stability, handle the drag, and land or take off safely.
• If you've already got your drone airborne and a strong wind comes up, try to point it to an area where it’s quieter. This could be behind a tall building or tree, and always make sure you have visual contact.
• If you notice that the wind gusts are getting stronger, do not raise the drone to a higher altitude as this will almost certainly cause you to lose control.
• If you want to pilot in conditions with stronger winds, get a larger and more stable drone that allows for this. Smaller drones are much more easily affected by outside conditions.
• As mentioned, batteries drain quickly in windy weather, so keep the drone at a closer distance from you.

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