DJI Mini 2 SE and Weather (Explained for Beginners)

The DJI Mini 2 SE is one of the cheapest DJI drones and is fantastic for any beginner.

However, flying this drone may be challenging in some weather conditions.

How does the Mini 2 SE handle the weather?

The DJI Mini 2 SE can withstand poor weather, including fog, very light rain, or snow. The drone’s wind resistance is exceptional. However, avoid flying in harsh conditions to protect your drone for long-term use.

In this article, we’ll cover all the basics of flying the DJI Mini 2 SE in various weather conditions.

Is the DJI Mini 2 SE waterproof?  #

Like any DJI drone, the Mini 2 SE is not waterproof.

Water can quickly enter the drone motors and electronics when flying in the rain or if you sink underwater.

You can attempt to waterproof your drone, but this isn’t always easy.

You must apply a thin silicon coating layer or other substances on different electronic parts. Even then, it would be impractical to completely waterproof the Mini 2 SE.

Filling the holes of the drone to stop water from getting inside is the worst approach because that’s ventilation to electronics. If you do that, your drone will overheat and probably burn the internal components.

How well does DJI Mini 2 SE handle light rain? #

The Mini 2 SE can deal with a little bit of light rain, the same as most drones.

Light rain means a few waterdrops here and there but nothing equivalent to wetting the pavement.

The drone may be able to withstand even more rain, but it’s risky to try. Remember that even a tiny waterdrop on the wrong circuit can damage the drone.

Moreover, if you fly a drone in light rain, you could experience low visibility and sudden changes in wind patterns.

In my personal opinion, I would not take the chance of flying the Mini 2 SE even in light rain.

If your drone is caught in light rain when flying it, I recommend bringing it back as soon as possible to avoid permanently damaging the drone.

The Mini 2 SE most likely won’t survive a sudden heavy rainstorm. And will DJI repair water damage?

Can DJI Mini 2 SE fly in snowy weather? #

It’s beautiful to fly a drone while it’s snowing, but also dangerous.

Maybe it’s not as risky as flying the Mini 2 SE in the rain, but we must consider all the hazards.

Another great drone that can fly in snowy weather is DJI Spark.

Like any drone, the Mini 2 SE has electronic parts and motors that get hot when flying. They will also warm up the drone body.

If snowflakes touch the drone and electronic parts, these will likely melt due to the drone’s heat.

Drone propellers generate a massive wind blast to keep the drone in the air, creating suction above the propellers where the air is pulled through.

This is like a magnet for snowflakes that will be shredded by fast-spinning propellers and thrown on all sides.

Flying the Mini 2 SE in the snow should not initially affect the drone. However, the more you fly, the chances for the electronics to be affected increase exponentially.

» MORE: How to Fly a Drone in the Snow (10 Tips for Safe Flights)

DJI Mini 2 SE wind resistance – Is it any good? #

The Mini 2 SE has a Level-5 wind resistance to withstand winds up to 10.7 m/s (24 mph or 38.5 km/h), according to DJI.

In reality, the Mini 2 SE can resist and fly in stronger winds, like the Mini 3 and Mini 3 Pro.

The wind resistance of 10.7 m/s is just a safe number, a guideline from DJI. It doesn’t mean that if you fly in higher winds, the Mini 2 SE will crash, not by a long shot. It would just be more challenging to control the drone and may affect image stabilization.

There are videos on YouTube with many Mini drones from DJI flown at wind speeds of over 50 mph, and the drones were doing just fine.

As small as the Mini 2 SE is, it has impressive wind resistance.

However, your warranty won’t cover you if you crash your Mini 2 SE when flying in high winds beyond DJI recommendations.

» MORE: Best Cheap Drones for Windy Conditions

Can DJI Mini 2 SE fly in fog? #

The Mini 2 SE can fly well in fog, and humidity should have little impact on the functionality of this drone.

Flying too long in the dense fog may create more condensation than the warm parts of the drone can evaporate, affecting the drone.

It’s also not recommended to fly the Mini 2 SE in the fog for these reasons:

• You’ll have less visibility, increasing the risk of crashes.
• You will probably break some drone laws.
• You won’t be able to spot any incoming aircraft.

Many DJI drones with obstacle avoidance sensors would struggle even more because these sensors could be triggered by heavy fog. 

But the Mini 2 SE doesn’t have obstacle avoidance sensors, which is an advantage in this situation.

» MORE: Can You Fly a Drone in Fog?

DJI Mini 2 SE and haze #

Flying the Mini 2 SE in hazy conditions is the most dangerous type of flight and will most likely crash the drone instantly.

The haze will probably damage the propellers even without rain, making the drone unstable.

Therefore, if you see a significant storm coming, don’t launch your Mini 2 SE to take some pictures of it – it can be dangerous.

Can you fly DJI Mini 2 SE in freezing weather conditions? #

According to DJI, the Mini 2 SE can fly in temperatures between 32° to 104° F (0° to 40° C).

DJI advises pilots not to fly the Mini 2 SE in freezing conditions.

There are many drones capable of flying in cold weather, though.

Technically, the drone can fly in freezing weather, but this is beyond the optimal flight recommendation imposed by DJI.

When you fly in cold weather, the battery life is drastically reduced.

Fortunately, there is no risk of frost on internal components when flying the drone, as these will produce enough heat to keep them above the freezing point.

If you want to fly a drone in winter, you must account for all the extreme conditions your drone may face.

Can you launch the DJI Mini 2 SE in hot weather? #

You should never launch the Mini 2 SE in temperatures above 104° F or 40° C.

If you take off in hot weather, the internal parts will not have enough cooling, and the drone will overheat.

In many situations, the Mini 2 SE will not fly at temperatures close to 104° F. It would just be dangerous.

The Mini 2 SE is white and should reflect heat, but if you have a dark skin on your drone, the color will heat the drone even more.

When flying a drone, the battery heats up a lot. In hot weather, it will overheat badly.

In a best-case scenario, the battery life will be drastically affected. Flying in hot weather often enough can permanently reduce the battery life.

In a worst-case scenario, the battery smart protection will land the drone automatically, shut itself off mid-air, or catch fire.

Tips for flying the DJI Mini 2 SE in all weather #

• You should never fly the Mini 2 SE outside its recommended temperature range, particularly in hot weather.
• The Mini 2 SE electronics are unprotected from water, making flying in the rain risky.
• You should fly the drone in good weather conditions (little wind, sunny or cloudy, no rain, snow, or heavy fog. 
• You can use the UAV Forecast app on your mobile device to check if weather conditions are optimal for flying your drone in a specific location.
• Be aware of any sudden weather changes.
• Wind gusts are dangerous because they are unpredictable.
• In the end, you should be responsible for flying the drone safely.

Can you damage the drone if flying in harsh weather? #

Flying your Mini 2 SE in harsh weather conditions can affect the short-term or long-term functionality of the drone.

Not to mention, it would be unfortunate if you lost your DJI drone because of this.

DJI Care Refresh may or may not cover your Mini 2 SE if you crash it while flying in harsh weather, depending on the circumstances (always check your warranty terms and conditions).

Drones are evolving with each release, and technology is advancing each year. 

The Mini 2 SE can withstand bad weather up to a point, but always be careful of your drone and others’ safety and follow FAA guidelines.

We may not yet have a DJI drone capable of flying in extreme weather conditions, but we should expect to in the future, following the advancement of drones based on the past few years.