What happens to solar panels when it rains or snows?

One of the most-asked questions: 'if it rains or snows, do panels break? Do they produce anything?'. Short answer: they survive everything, and produce more than you think.

When it rains

Solar panels are IP67/IP68 certified: fully sealed. They handle rain, hail and sleet. Rain actually helps: the film of dust and pollen washes off and production rises 5-10% in dry, dusty areas.

• Bright cloudy day: 35-55% of normal output
• Dense overcast: 15-25% of normal
• Storm: 5-15%, but short
• Light rain with sun breaks: nearly normal

When it snows

Snow on the panel blocks all light. But panels are tilted and dark: they absorb heat and snow usually slides off in 1-3 days. Heated panel systems exist in heavy-snow regions but rarely pay back.

Hail: the one thing to plan for

Modern panels certified to IEC 61215 withstand 1-inch hail at 50 mph. For extreme-hail regions (Front Range, Midwest US) reinforced 3.2-4 mm glass panels are available. Homeowner's insurance should cover catastrophic hail damage — confirm before signing.

And extreme heat

Counter-intuitive: panels produce less at 122 °F than at 68 °F because efficiency drops 0.3-0.5% per °C above 77 °F (25 °C). A heat wave can drop output 10-15% even under intense sun. Good rear ventilation = better production.

For seasonal data, see do solar panels produce less in winter and solar panel lifespan.