I’m a Wi-Fi expert and the weather DOES affect your internet connection – but not in the way you think

IF you’ve noticed that your internet is sluggish when the weather is bad you’re not alone.

Heavy rain can affect your broadband – but not in the way you might think.

AlamyBad weather may have an unexpected affect on your broadband[/caption]

The rain itself doesn’t cause much trouble.

So why is your Wi-Fi suddenly slow when it pours down?

Experts have revealed that it’s actually human behaviour that comes into play.

And it’s all because more people opt to stay in rather than going out.

“When it rains, more people might decide to stay indoors or work from home,” James Jin Kang and Paul Haskell-Dowland, from Edith Cowan University, wrote on The Conversation.

“This inevitably leads to an increase in the network usage.

“When a large number of people increase their internet usage, the limited bandwidth available is rapidly consumed, resulting in apparent slowdowns.”

However, as Virgin Media explains, extreme weather like storms can have other consequences.

These can cause issues for any overhead cables in your area.

“While a storm can’t interfere with your router’s wireless signal, extreme weather can impact the WiFi connection in other ways,” the company explains.

“Heavy rain or wind can damage overhead cables supplying your broadband.

“Poor connections at the central internet exchange can also slow down your internet speed when there is stormy weather.”

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]