Internet is slow or down after a storm

Symptoms

• Internet stopped working or got noticeably worse during or right after a storm
• Visible damage to overhead cables or a fallen tree branch near the line
• Power was also out during the storm, even briefly
• Neighbors report similar issues after the same storm

Likely causes

• CommonPhysical damage to outdoor cables from wind, falling branches, or debrisStorms are a leading cause of physical line damage, especially for above-ground cable and phone lines.
• CommonPower outage affecting local ISP equipment (even if your home's power is back)Neighborhood equipment like amplifiers and nodes need power too, and can remain down after a storm even once home power returns.
• PossibleMoisture intrusion into outdoor cable connectionsWater can degrade a connection's signal quality without fully cutting it, causing slow or unstable service rather than a complete outage.
• PossibleSurge damage to modem or router from the stormPower surges during storms can damage networking equipment even if it survived without an obvious sign.

What to do

1. Visually check for any obvious damage to the cable or line running to your home, from the street or pole, without touching anything that looks damaged or exposed.
2. Confirm your own home's power is stable and hasn't caused a lingering issue with your modem or router's power supply.
3. Restart the modem and router after confirming power and physical cables look intact.
4. Check your provider's outage map, since storm damage to shared infrastructure often affects a whole neighborhood, not just your home.
5. If you notice inconsistent or degraded (not fully dead) service after a storm, mention 'possible moisture in the line' when contacting support, since this is a known storm-related issue.
6. If your modem or router shows no signs of life after the storm and there was a power surge, consider it may have surge-damaged, and try it in a different, confirmed-working outlet.
7. Report any visible damage to cables, poles, or lines to your provider so they can prioritize a repair, especially if a line is down or exposed.

Tools and parts

When to call a pro

Storm-related outages affecting outdoor lines require your ISP to send a technician, and any damaged or downed cable should be reported immediately rather than approached.

Safety