How Weather Affects Starlink Performance

Starlink is a powerful broadband option in rural and remote areas — but like all satellite-based systems, its performance can be affected by weather conditions. Here’s what to expect in different types of weather, and how to minimise impact on your connection.

1. Rain and Heavy Showers

Effect:

• Mild to moderate rain typically has little or no effect

• Heavy rain can cause signal degradation, resulting in slower speeds or brief dropouts

Tips:

• Ensure the dish has a clear view of the sky with no obstructions

• Use a business-grade router with failover capability if uptime is critical

• Avoid placing the dish in areas prone to pooling water or surface runoff

2. Snow and Ice

Effect:

• The Gen 3 Starlink dish includes built-in heating to melt snow

• Heavy snowfall can still accumulate around the dish or on surrounding structures, blocking signal

• Ice buildup may reduce performance or movement of the dish temporarily

Tips:

• Install the dish at an elevated height to reduce snow accumulation from ground splash

• Regularly check for and clear away snow or ice around the dish if necessary

• Use the Starlink app to check for obstructions or reduced signal during snowy periods

3. High Winds

Effect:

• The dish itself can handle strong wind, but poor mounting may cause misalignment or movement

• Wind-blown debris (leaves, branches) can momentarily block signal

Tips:

• Use secure, weatherproof mounting brackets

• Avoid temporary or ground-level setups in exposed locations

• Check for physical damage or loose cabling after storms

4. Fog and Cloud Cover

Effect:

• Thick fog or cloud layers generally have minimal impact

• Dense cloud combined with other factors (like rain) may introduce slight latency spikes

Tips:

• No specific action usually needed — issues are typically short-lived

• Keep an eye on Starlink app stats if call quality or speeds drop during foggy periods

5. Lightning and Power Cuts

Effect:

• Lightning won’t directly affect satellite signal but can disrupt local power or cause surges

• A power cut will disconnect the dish unless protected by a UPS

Tips:

• Use a surge protector or UPS (uninterruptible power supply) to keep your equipment safe and running

• Avoid touching or repositioning equipment during a thunderstorm

Monitoring Starlink During Weather Events

If you are covered under a Fusion IT support & management agreement that includes Starlink, we can monitor your connection remotely. This allows us to:

• Identify frequent signal dropouts

• Monitor speed trends and uptime

• Detect potential obstructions or dish misalignment

• Alert you to weather-related performance issues

If you're not currently covered but would like us to monitor your Starlink setup, get in touch to discuss support options.

You can also use the Starlink app locally to check:

• Signal strength

• Obstruction alerts

• Downtime events

• Firmware and hardware status

Need Help?
If you’re experiencing consistent performance issues in bad weather — or want help integrating Starlink into a more resilient business setup — we’re here to assist.

Ticket Portal: https://support.fusionit.uk
Email: support@fusionit.uk
Phone: 01244 835080

Disclaimer:
This article is intended as a general guide. While we aim to ensure accuracy, Fusion IT cannot be held responsible for any issues, data loss, or damage resulting from the use or misapplication of these instructions. If in doubt, please contact our support team before making changes.