Will your solar panels survive the next hurricane?

Hurricane season doesn't have to mean sleepless nights worrying about your solar investment. In fact, recent storms have revealed something remarkable: Solar panels don’t just survive—they can keep the lights on when everything else fails.

When other homeowners lose power during extreme weather events like hurricanes,  homeowners with solar panels and battery storage can become neighborhood lifelines: After Hurricane Helene in 2024, one North Carolina couple powered through 11 days of outages with their 10-kilowatt (kW) solar system and battery, and first responders relied on solar-powered disaster response trailers to run their command centers.

Your solar panels aren't just built to survive extreme weather—they're engineered to be reliable when you need them most.

“Modern solar panels are engineered to withstand extreme weather,” Duane Wright of Fuse Solar and Roofing told Engergysage. “Most Tier 1 panels are tested to endure wind speeds up to 140 mph and hail impact from 1-inch diameter hailstones traveling over 50 mph.”

Wright said he’s seen solar panels survive direct hits from Category 4 hurricanes with minimal damage—especially when installed with hurricane-rated racking and proper anchoring. Plus, he’s even seen solar panels save a home from major structural damage when trees fall during a storm.

The numbers back this up: A report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on 50,000 solar energy systems installed between 2009 and 2013 determined that only 0.1% of all solar systems have been reported as affected by damage or underperforming each year.

Real storms, real results

Recent hurricanes have proved solar can weather the storm: During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, for example, New Jersey was hit especially hard, but it also had one of the largest solar power capacities in the U.S at the time. In the second quarter of that year, just before the hurricane hit, the state had installed 103 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity. Analysis after Sandy hit revealed little to no damage to solar systems from the storm. 

Another impressive example came during Hurricane Maria in 2017, where a 645 kilowatt (kW) solar array on the roof of a hospital in Puerto Rico continued to operate at full capacity post-storm—even though it was exposed to 180 mph storm winds.

The construction itself tells the story: Solar panels typically use the same tempered glass found in car windshields, combined with aircraft-grade aluminum frames and weatherproof sealing, giving them the ability to withstand extreme wind and snow loads.

Solar manufacturers don't mess around with durability testing, either. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61215 standard requires panels to withstand impacts from hailstones as large as one inch traveling around 51 mph. But premium manufacturers go further—some test with ice balls four times more powerful than the standard requires.

If you live in a coastal zone, it’s important to make sure your solar panels’ wind uplift ratings meet or exceed local building codes standards, which can be as much as 160 mph or more. You also want to make sure your racking system is well-rated for high wind zones, and installed with sealed penetrations and hurricane clips, Wright said.

Smart homeowners don't just trust their panels' toughness—they take proactive steps to maximize protection. Here's what Wright says solar homeowners should have on their pre-storm checklist:

Before hurricane season:

• Schedule a pre-season inspection to check for loose hardware, corrosion, or exposed wiring.

• Trim nearby trees to reduce debris risk.

• Document the system with photos for insurance purposes.

• Review warranties and insurance coverage to confirm storm-related damage is included.

"For battery systems, I also recommend checking backup settings and charge levels to ensure readiness in case of grid outages," Wright said. 

When it comes to storm damage, the reality is that most of it comes from debris, not from the wind or rain. "Most damage comes from flying debris, not the storm itself,” he explained. “We've seen cracked glass, bent racking, and dislodged panels caused by tree limbs, roof tiles, and other projectiles.”

Water intrusion from compromised roof seals is another issue to be aware of, especially on older or poorly installed systems, said Wright. 

Even the best panels can't deflect every flying object. If storm damage occurs, here's your best plan of action, according to Wright:

• Turn off the system if safe to do so

• Take photos of all visible damage

• Contact your installer for a professional inspection

• File a claim with your insurance provider

• Avoid DIY repairs—even minor electrical faults can pose serious safety risks

Most homeowner insurance policies cover roof-mounted solar panels, and once you've already documented your system's pre-storm condition, filing a claim should be straightforward.

The battery advantage: Your personal power plant

Here's where solar can really be a lifeline during disasters: Solar-plus-battery systems can create your own private utility company. Within seconds, residential solar panel systems with battery storage automatically detect the loss of grid power and switch to an "islanded" mode to keep the power on.

Power outages aren't just inconvenient—they're becoming more frequent and costly, which only makes solar panels all the more worthwhile an investment.  Today's installation standards exceed most building codes, mounting systems use aerospace-grade materials, and battery technology has advanced to the point where whole-home backup is affordable for most families.

Modern solar panels don't just help protect you against extreme weather—they provide the foundation for energy independence when you need it most.