Your experience may vary, but according to reports from many customers, yes, Starlink does work in the middle of a thunderstorm.

Satellite Internet and the Weather

Most satellite internet service suffers from a similar drawback; they require a clear view of the sky in the direction of the satellites in orbit to function. This means that things like trees, buildings, and even the weather are obstructions that can slow or even interrupt your service. Starlink appears to have at least partially solved the problem when it comes to the weather.

Why Is Starlink Different?

Most satellites are in what’s called geostationary orbit around the earth. Geostationary orbit is when an object is orbiting at the right speed and distance from the earth to appear motionless. Starlink’s satellites are much closer to earth than geostationary satellites and can provide a much more consistent signal. Another significant difference is that the Starlink satellite dish can monitor and maintain its temperature and cause snow that falls on it to melt. Starlink also has far more satellites in orbit than traditional satellite internet providers, which may also help in keeping a solid connection during inclement weather.

Not everyone has had the same experience though. Some users have reported outages during thunderstorms, but they do appear to be the minority. It is possible that Starlink may be able to function well during most thunderstorms, but perhaps it is larger thunderstorms that cause problems. As Starlink continues to expand its coverage, we may get the answer soon.