Before flying in cold environments, follow the guidelines below to ensure long battery life and safe operation of your drone.
Quick Steps
- Keep your batteries warm before flying
- Only operate your drone within the published operational temperature range
- Avoid bare branches and other thin objects like icicles
- Use caution when flying above areas covered with smooth snow wider than 30 ft (9 m)
Read the full Safety and Operating Guide before flying and check out Skydio 2/2+ battery guidelines and safety for more information on battery maintenance and storage.
Cold weather guidelines
| Visual Navigation |
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Do not fly around objects less than 0.5 in (1.27 cm) in diameter such as thin branches, utility lines, ropes, and netting.
[note] Cold weather usually means less leaves and more bare branches—use extra caution when flying in these environments.[/note]
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Ensure the flight environment has good visibility. Skydio 2/2+ can only fly in normal daytime conditions. The Skydio app will warn you of low-light conditions and may suggest you land if there isn’t enough light to fly safely.
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| Use caution when flying in areas with bright, reflective snow. Reflective surfaces impair visual navigation. |
| Weather |
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Do not fly in snow-covered environments that lack textures and shadows. Fully white conditions may impair visual navigation.
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Do not fly in fog or precipitation such as rain and snow.
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Do not fly in cold temperatures below 23°F (-5°C).
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Avoid windy weather conditions, and gusts above 25 mph (40 km/h).
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Use caution when flying above areas covered with smooth snow wider than 30 ft (9 m).
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Battery maintenance
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When flying in temperatures below 32°F (0°C) ensure your batteries are pre-warmed to 50°F (10°C) prior to launch.
[tip] Carrying batteries against your body can help keep them warm when flying in cold environments. [/tip]
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| Do not use your Skydio 2/2+ batteries if they are below 32°F (0°C), as they will not function properly below that temperature. |
| If your batteries do get cold, warm batteries in a room-temperature environment before flying. DO NOT use higher heat (hairdryer, etc.) to accelerate heating. |
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Do not charge your batteries when the ambient temperature is below 14°F (-10°C).
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Store batteries at room temperature 71°F - 82°F (22°C - 28°C).
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Store batteries in a cool, dry area with less than 75% relative humidity.
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Explore More
Access Skydio 2/2+ Manuals and Guides
Flying Your Skydio 2/2+ Near Water
Understanding Skydio camera and video settings
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