Drone flying is a task that requires the user to be well aware of their surroundings. Weather can affect your drone flying experience both negatively and positively. One needs to be able to take proper precautions to protect the equipment from the weather.
Drones are very expensive. So, no matter whether you want to fly a drone during snowfall for professional reasons or just as a hobby, you need to ensure that they don’t get damaged due to the weather.
Generally, it becomes very difficult to fly drones in extreme weather conditions. You will have to take precautions to ensure that the equipment does not get damaged and, above all, ensure your own safety. Do proper planning and watch out for the weather getting dangerously worse.
Tips to Fly Your Drone in a Cold Region during Snowfall
1. Ensure That Your Drone is Capable of Flying during Snowfall
Drones are built differently. Not all of them are capable of flying during snowfall without getting damaged. One of the most critical factors that you need to consider is how much waterproof the drone is. If the snow gets near the motor or the battery, it will melt from the heat produced by these components. This moisture can cause damage to the drone.
Therefore, do your research to ensure that your drone has good waterproofing to cut through the snow without breaking.
2. Watch Out for the Effects of Cold Temperature on the Drone’s Battery
Cold weather may have adverse effects on your drone’s lithium battery. Therefore, it is recommended to test the batteries before the flight to ensure they are working normally and avoid using old batteries. Another thing to check is that if they are fully charged. Monitor your drone’s battery closely throughout the flight and optimally take the drone back home at 50% charge. This will help you avoid any crashes.
Another thing that can be done to keep your drone’s battery safe and help it last longer is to keep it warm. It is good to ensure that the batteries are warm during transportation, and you should only take them out when you want to fly the drone.
3. Test the Drone before Flying it
Always test the drone before flying it, especially in bad weather conditions, such as snowfall. Hover it close to the ground for a minute or so to ensure everything is working perfectly. If you see any problems or notice any damage, it is best to head home and get the drone checked out.
Also, keep an eye on the battery during testing to see if there are any sudden drops, as that would indicate problems with the battery.
4. Avoid Flying the Drone in Strong Wind or Heavy Snowfall
This one goes without saying, but any guide for flying drones in cold regions will be incomplete if it does not advise the readers to avoid flying their drones in heavy snow or strong winds. If the weather is too extreme, it is probably best to stay home. It can be quite dangerous for both you and your equipment to fly in such worse weather conditions.
Some hobby drones are quite lightweight that they might not cope with strong winds and may go crazy in the air and end up crashing badly.
5. Make Sure to Keep Everything Dry
Throughout the transportation, your equipment and the place you are storing it should be kept dry to avoid any damage. The drone shouldn’t be in the snow for longer than it has to be. Only expose it to snowfall when you intend to fly it.
If moisture gets into the electronics of the drone, it can cause severe damage. The humidity can also cause an ice buildup on the drone, causing it to crash.
6. Try Not to Fly the Drone into Clouds
If you are at high altitudes, it might be possible for the drone to reach the clouds. Although it can be tempting to fly it into the clouds, it is advised not to do so. Doing so can cause the drone to be exposed to moisture.
Water from the clouds can also cause an ice buildup on your drone, causing it to fall down and crash badly. So, avoid flying your drone in the clouds.
7. Mind the Altitude and its Effects on Drone Flying
The altitude the drone is flying at affects its flight time. The higher you are, the faster the drone’s propellers need to spin, which drains the battery at a faster rate.
Keep a close eye on the battery of the drone when flying during snowfall at high altitudes. Another thing to remember is that not all drones are meant or designed for flying at very high altitudes. So, your best selfie drones might not be capable of flight in the mountains during snowfall.
Ensure that your drone is capable of handling flight in high altitudes before flying it.
8. Adjust the Camera Settings for Filming in Snow
Snow can cause problems with the camera’s setting, causing it to take underexposed photos. So, it is advised to manually adjust the camera settings before flying to ensure everything works perfectly.
9. Avoid Adding too Much Weight to the Drone
The more weight you add to the drone, the less battery life it will have. Low temperature will reduce flight time significantly by lowering battery life. So, adding extra weight is not advised since it will reduce the flight time even further.
The extra weight can be of the camera attached or the gimbal.
10. Keep Yourself Warm
Personal safety always comes first. When you are in a cold region, you need to ensure that you keep yourself warm. Keep hand and feet warmers with you and wear clothing that protects you against cold temperature and wind. Only then will you be able to fly your drone without getting distracted.
Conclusion
Drone flying is fun and provides you with the opportunity to see the world from a different perspective. But one should always ensure his and others’ safety while flying them. So hopefully, using the tips we have mentioned in this guide, you can have a safe and successful flight during snowfall in cold regions.