Can the DJI Mini 2 fly in 25 mph wind?

The DJI rating, what a 25 mph forecast becomes at 30–120 m, and when gusts tip it over.

No. Weather apps forecast the wind 10 m above ground, and it is stronger where the drone flies: a 25 mph forecast means about 29 mph at 30 m and 35 mph at 120 m on open land by day. Against the Mini 2’s 23 mph rating that is Outside your limits at both heights.

If 25 mph is the wind measured at flight height, it is 106% of the rating: Outside your limits.

How strong is 25 mph?

25 mph is 11.2 m/s, 40 km/h or 22 knots: Beaufort 6, a strong breeze. See the Beaufort scale for drone pilots.

A 25 mph forecast, by height

Forecast apps give the wind 10 m above ground. It gets stronger with height, more so at night and over towns or forest, where the air near the ground is held back. Here is a 25 mph forecast at the heights you fly the Mini 2, scored against its 23 mph rating.

HeightOpen land, dayScoreNight, town or forestScore
30 m (100 ft)29 mphOutside your limits33 mphOutside your limits
60 m (200 ft)32 mphOutside your limits39 mphOutside your limits
90 m (300 ft)34 mphOutside your limits43 mphOutside your limits
120 m (400 ft)35 mphOutside your limits47 mphOutside your limits

Standard power law (α = 0.14 by day over open land, 0.25 at night or over rough ground). The app uses the weather model’s own 80, 120 and 180 m winds where they exist. More in wind at altitude.

The Mini 2’s wind limits

At flight height, sustained wind is within your limits up to 14 mph (60% of the rating) and marginal up to 20 mph (85%). Estimated gusts are within your limits up to 19 mph and marginal up to 23 mph, the maker’s maximum.

In forecast terms: for flying at 120 m, a 10 m forecast under about 10 mph keeps the Mini 2 within your limits on open land by day (under 8 mph at night or over towns), and up to about 14 mph it is marginal. Lower down, the same forecast leaves more room.

Gusts

Gusts ride on top of the mean wind. For example, 25 mph gusting to 35 mph puts the gusts at 149% of the rating: Outside your limits. Altiwind estimates gusts at your height from the forecast 10 m gust and always labels them as estimates. See gusts vs sustained wind.

At 249 g the Mini 2 is a sub-250 g drone. Light airframes are pushed around more by gusts, and holding position or flying home into a 25 mph headwind drains the battery faster than the rated 31 minutes (measured in calm air) suggest. Turn back with charge to spare. For smooth footage less wind helps: even within your limits, gusts show as shake and drift in the video.

More wind questions

25 mph for other drones

Compared

FAQ

Can the DJI Mini 2 fly in 25 mph wind?

No. Weather apps forecast the wind 10 m above ground, and it is stronger where the drone flies: a 25 mph forecast means about 29 mph at 30 m and 35 mph at 120 m on open land by day. Against the Mini 2’s 23 mph rating that is Outside your limits at both heights. If 25 mph is the wind measured at flight height, it is 106% of the rating: Outside your limits.

What wind is too strong for the DJI Mini 2?

Above 20 mph of sustained wind at flight height (85% of its 23 mph rating) Altiwind scores it as outside your limits. 23 mph (10.5 m/s) is the maker’s maximum, not a comfortable working wind.

How strong is 25 mph wind?

25 mph is 11.2 m/s or 40 km/h, Beaufort 6 (strong breeze).