Understanding the impact of weather on drone performance is crucial for ensuring safe and efficient operations. Wind, precipitation and visibility are the three main limiting factors, however cold not only affects the drone’s performance, it can also seriously impede the pilot’s performance.

The key weather factors for drone flights are:

• Wind speed: strong winds can destabilise drones, making it difficult to maintain control, especially when operating close to structures such as wind turbines. Gusty winds can also pose a safety risk;
• Wind direction: when operating in high wind it is essential to keep the drone upwind from the pilot’s position ensuring a tail wind when returning to the home point;
• Precipitation: rain, snow, and fog can significantly reduce visibility, making it dangerous or impossible to fly drones under VLOS conditions. Unless IP rated (such as our Matrice series), rain can also damage the drone’s components such as payloads and sensors;
• Temperature: Extreme temperatures can affect the drone’s battery performance and electronic equipment. Cold weather can lead to decreased battery life, while hot weather can cause overheating (not usually an issue in Shetland!);
• Air pressure: rapid changes in air pressure can affect the drone’s altitude control. It’s important to be aware of any significant changes in air pressure;
• Sunshine and cloud: image capture for photogrammetry is best undertaken in bright overcast conditions: sunshine can create harsh shadows which can cause issues when processing. Conversely, multispectral image capture is best done in sunny conditions;
• Relative humidity (RH): thermal imaging and mapping can be affected by humidity, the RH must be below 90% to ensure clear thermal imagery.

Weather conditions play a critical role in the success of drone operations. By understanding the key factors that affect drone performance and taking steps to mitigate risks, we can ensure safe and efficient operations even in exposed locations such as Shetland.