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Please note!
This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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FACT BRIEF

Can wind power turbines operate in all kinds of severe weather?

By Lisa Freedland
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NO

Wind farms can be susceptible to extreme weather like lightning, high-speed winds or freezing temperatures.

While the turbines’ blades require wind speeds between 6 mph and 9 mph to generate electricity, they also have a maximum speed. Gusts stronger than 55 mph can sometimes cause the turbines to shut down. Exceeding a maximum speed may shut turbines off to prevent straining the rotor.

Lightning can also damage the blades and generators, but manufacturers and engineers continue to research how to disperse the large jolts of electricity safely.

Wind turbines in predictably cold climates such as Sweden or Canada are typically adapted to work in temperatures as low as -22°F, but operators in more temperate climates don’t always invest in those measures.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
US Department of Energy: How do wind turbines survive severe storms?
Scientific American: Lightning strikes are a big problem for wind turbines
Exponent: Lightning protection for wind turbines
Interesting Engineering Interesting Engineering: Do wind turbines really fail in cold weather?
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Gigafact
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.