When Should You Retract an Awning or Screen? Rain, Wind, Snow and Ice Rules for Connecticut

Last updated: October 2026. Written by the Shoreline Shade team in Clinton, CT.

What are the simple rules for when to retract an awning or screen?

Retract before the weather arrives, not after. The simplest working rules for Connecticut are these: retract in heavy rain, retract when the wind is gusting enough to move small trees, retract before any thunderstorm, and keep both retracted in snow and ice. When you leave the house for the day or the weekend and the forecast is questionable, retract then too. Every one of those rules comes from the same idea: fabric and mesh are safe when they are rolled up inside a housing and exposed when they are out.

These are rules of thumb, not engineering ratings. Your manual and the settings on any wind sensor come first, and the details differ by product. Our retractable awnings are designed to give rain protection when extended, but we recommend retracting them during heavy storms or high winds. Our motorized retractable screens are rated for moderate wind, with optional sensors that retract them automatically when wind becomes unsafe, and we recommend retracting during severe weather.

How windy is too windy?

Wind is the condition that causes most awning and screen damage, and it is the hardest to judge by feel. Forecasts give a sustained speed and a higher gust speed. Gusts are what hit the fabric, so use the gust number. A practical way to judge without an instrument is the Beaufort scale, which links wind speed to things you can see. The National Weather Service explains it on its Beaufort wind scale page.

Wind speeds are the standard Beaufort scale ranges. The rule-of-thumb column is our conservative guidance, not a manufacturer rating. Your product’s manual and wind-sensor setting take priority.

Direction matters too. Wind blowing straight into the open front of an awning lifts it like a wing. Wind from behind, across the housing, is less dangerous but still stresses arms and brackets. A gusty day with swirling wind around a building can be worse than a steady breeze of the same speed. For the physics of how wind moves around structures, see our windbreak screens guide.

Can you leave an awning or screen out in the rain?

Light rain with little wind is usually fine for an awning, which is designed to give rain protection when extended. Our Sunbrella awning fabric is treated with a water-repellent finish. The risk grows with the amount of water and the amount of wind. Here is how we think about it:

• Light, steady rain, calm air: an awning is doing its job. Keep an eye on the front edge for water running off rather than pooling.
• Heavy downpour: retract. A lot of water collects quickly, and pooled water is heavy and stretches fabric.
• Rain with gusting wind: retract. This is the combination that causes damage.
• Screens in rain: mesh passes water, so a light rain is not a problem on its own, but wind-driven rain and debris are. Retract in severe weather.

What if you retract wet fabric?

If you must retract a wet awning, plan to extend it again in dry weather within a day or two so the fabric dries completely. Damp fabric rolled into a cassette is the easy route to mildew. Our Sunbrella awning maintenance guide covers cleaning and drying.

What does pooling look like?

A low spot or sag in the fabric where water gathers. If you see it, retract the awning and have the pitch checked. A pitch that is too shallow is a setup issue, not a weather issue.

What should you do before a thunderstorm?

Retract at the first credible warning, which means a severe thunderstorm watch or warning, a darkening sky with distant thunder, or a forecast that includes strong storms. Thunderstorms bring sudden gusts well before the rain starts, and the strongest wind often arrives with little warning. The National Weather Service’s thunderstorm safety guidance makes the key point: when thunder roars, go indoors. Do not walk out to a patio to wrestle with an awning during lightning.

That is a strong argument for motorized units. If you can retract with a remote from inside the house, you can do it early and safely. If your awning is manual, plan to retract earlier than you think you need to. Our storm prep guide for awnings and screens goes through tropical storms, nor’easters and what to do afterward. If you want automation to help, see smart-home integration for motorized awnings.

What about snow and ice?

Keep awnings and screens retracted from the first hard freeze to the end of the cold season, and never extend or retract a unit that is frozen, iced over or loaded with snow. Wet snow is heavy, ice locks parts together, and a motor forced against frozen fabric or a frozen track can be damaged. If a unit is iced in the extended position, do not chip at it with tools. Wait for a thaw or call for help.

• Before the first freeze: retract, dry and secure everything. Our winterizing guide walks through it.
• After a storm: look for snow or ice that has slid off the roof onto a housing, and for dents or bent bottom bars.
• On mild winter days: resist the urge to extend to enjoy a sunny afternoon unless the unit is fully clear and above freezing, and the manual allows it.
• In spring: use our spring checklist for awnings and screens before the first operation.

The National Weather Service has background on what to expect during winter storms. Connecticut gets all of it: heavy snow inland, freezing rain in between, and coastal wind. Treat the unit as a fair-weather product for the whole season.

Do the rules differ by product?

A little. This summary is general, and your manual rules.

Can a wind sensor retract the unit for you?

An optional wind sensor can retract an awning or screen automatically when wind exceeds a setting. It is a good safety net, particularly for the weekday when nobody is home. It is not a substitute for you, for a few reasons. It can only react to wind it senses at its location. It can fail, lose power or be set too high. It cannot see a thunderstorm coming. And a sensor cannot protect a unit that is iced or already damaged.

If you have one, test it each spring, ask your installer what the sensitivity is set to, and ask what the unit does if power is lost. Settings and behavior vary by model. Our power guide, how motorized awnings and screens are powered, covers outages, and the motorized screens vs retractable awnings comparison explains how the two product types handle weather differently.

What is a simple routine so you never forget?

1. Check the forecast each morning during the season, looking at gusts and storm chances rather than only the temperature.
2. Retract when you leave the house if there is any doubt, even for an hour.
3. Retract at bedtime if wind or storms are in the overnight forecast.
4. Keep the remote where you can reach it, and keep a spare battery.
5. Look at the unit after every storm before you extend it again.
6. Retract fully for the season before the first hard freeze.

Coastal towns like Stonington, Old Saybrook and East Lyme get stronger sustained wind off the water than most inland yards, so the thresholds above are even more important there. For salt and moisture issues, read salt air and coastal awnings and screens.

When do these rules not apply?

If you have questions about your own unit, call us at (860) 510-3862 or send a note. For choosing a product with weather in mind, see the retractable awning buying guide.

Frequently asked questions