Why Do I Lose Internet Connection When It Rains?

“Oh no! Is it pouring again? Now the internet won’t work! Drat, and double drat!”

When the weather gets wet and gloomy and you are stuck indoors, the best thing you can think of doing is getting tucked in your cozy couch and treating yourself to a cup of hot chocolate and a bowl of chips, while streaming your favorite show or movie on Netflix… but what if you can’t?

At times, your video streaming is suddenly disrupted in the middle of a storm, rainfall, or snowfall. In such an instance, you may blame the wild weather for dropped signals. It’s arguably infuriating when your internet connection bails on you right when you need it the most. Sometimes a rainy day can make your internet connection just as slow and dreary as you are due to the poor weather but what is the reason behind this?

Why Do I Lose Internet Connection When It Rains?

Your internet connection is likely to drop when it rains mainly because of two things:

Traditional Copper Wiring

If your ISP offers a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Asymmetric (ADSL), or Symmetric (SDSL), it means your internet is being run over copper phone lines that have been buried in the ground or hovering on the utility poles for a sufficiently long time.

Consequently, you end up with a sluggish internet that does not even load a website when it’s raining.

Network Congestion

Even if the traditional copper cables survive the rain, they seem to fail when it comes to coping with high volumes of internet traffic. When it rains, most of us decide to stay indoors and end up consuming more Mbps than usual to survive the gloomy weather.

When a large number of people are streaming, downloading, and gaming at the same time, the internet speeds may slow down due to a greater than normal individual bandwidth demand. After all, the internet supply is relatively finite.

In order to cope with the excessive demand for data transfer, many ISPs deploy data throttling or other optimizations like selective bandwidth to prevent hiccups in transmission, which can actually kill your internet speed on a congested rainy day when you need it the most.

To avoid issues associated with network congestion, you could subscribe to a 100% Fiber Optic Internet service like AT&T Fiber, Metronet, Ziply Fiber, or Clearwave Fiber.

Looking for a Solution? Keep Reading!

When it’s pouring or gloomy outside, a large number of people prefer to stay indoors and use the internet for various fun-fueled activities. Therefore, the network is inevitably flooded by increased internet users. When the traffic is high during extreme weather conditions, the internet connection keeps dropping and reconnecting.

Now that you are aware of some of the reasons behind the connectivity problem, here are some effective ways to alleviate it:

Carefully Examine Your Equipment

Before you try out other solutions to improve your internet speed, you need to take the time to ensure that your equipment is working properly. Review the following aspects carefully:

Monitor Weather Conditions

It’s important to keep an eye on weather forecasts to avoid connectivity issues during severe weather conditions. If you are aware that a storm is on its way, you will be prepared for potential internet disruptions in advance. There’s nothing better than having alternative methods of staying connected with the world. You could get a mobile data plan as a backup, preferably from providers like Spectrum, Xfinity, or AT&T as they offer mobile internet plans alongside home internet.

Waterproof Your Equipment

Consider using the following tips to mitigate weather-related connectivity issues:

Reach Out to Your Internet Service Provider

If your equipment is in good working condition, yet you still continue to experience connectivity issues during stormy and rainy weather, consider reaching out to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for professional assistance. Even if it’s a matter of physical damage, only your ISP can give you the assistance you need. Make sure you explain the service-related issue to them and ask if they can send an expert to inspect your connection.

In most cases, an ISP's infrastructure is affected by weather conditions. This is why only your ISP’s technicians can fix the damage. With a good customer support from your ISP, you can rest assured that nothing can keep you from enjoying your favorite Netflix show, even if it rains cats and dogs and the internet traffic is high.

Consider Upgrading Your Network

Do you happen to live in an area prone to frequent and severe weather-related connectivity issues? And you think these issues can’t be solved with some troubleshooting tips or the above measures? If your answer is yes, it’s probably high time to explore other options for a more robust internet connection that is hardly impacted by any inclement weather or other inconveniences.

In fact, you could consider upgrading traditional internet with stronger and faster internet, such as a 100% Fiber Optic connection. When it comes to reliable connectivity, Fiber optic is less susceptible to weather-related disruptions as compared to older technologies, such as fixed wireless, satellite, or DSL. All in all, replacing your traditional copper-oriented internet connection with a faster and more reliable one can add so much more happiness to a rainy day.

Endnote: Take Message Home!

If you frequently come across weather-related connectivity issues, know that these problems are very common. All you need to do is follow the aforementioned steps to identify and potentially address the underlying problem in no time. If your internet goes out when it rains, you need to do everything possible to ensure your internet-connected equipment is weatherproof, and get in touch with your ISP if the problem persists. In a nutshell, staying proactive and informed can help you avoid internet connection issues even during adverse weather conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why Does My Internet Connection Drop When It Rains?

Your internet connection drops because of network congestion and traditional old copper wires. Copper wires conduct electricity and get damaged when rainwater enters. Call 855-349-9328 for an upgrade on your internet.

Why does the internet go out during storms?

The internet usually drops during storms due to physical damage to the network infrastructure, frequent and sudden power outages, and interference with wireless signals caused by extreme weather conditions.