The first cold, wet week of November brings a particular kind of message to our inbox. It usually has a photo of a soaked flag hanging limp from a porch bracket, and the sender wants to know if leaving it out was wrong. We sew Made in USA flags, so we answer the can you fly American flag in rain question every fall. The fabric decides most of it. The forecast decides the rest.

TL;DR: Yes, if it is an all-weather flag. Under 4 USC 6(c), the flag should not fly in inclement weather unless it is an all-weather flag. Nylon and spun polyester fit that description. We bring cotton-blend flags inside before the rain. Any flag comes down for ice, lightning, a named storm or wind shredding the fly end (4 USC 8(e)).

Quick pick

  • Rain and everyday weather on a sheltered porch or yard pole: Durable Patriot, high-grade nylon with embroidered stars and sewn stripes, sizes 2x3 to 12x18
  • Windy lots and snowy winters: Everlast American Pride, 2-ply spun polyester, sizes 3x5 to 6x10
  • Wind decisions: our high wind guide

Can You Fly American Flag in Rain? What 4 USC 6(c) Says

The rule fits in one sentence. 4 U.S.C. § 6(c) reads: "The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed." We like how plain that is. Rain counts as inclement weather. So does snow. The exception carries the whole answer.

The federal Flag Code sets no penalties for a homeowner. We follow it anyway, because a flag should not be left out to be ruined. Section 8(e) says the same thing from the other side: the flag should never be displayed in a way that lets it be easily torn or damaged.

So rain is a fabric question, and a storm is a judgment call.

What All-Weather Means on a Flag

Here is the odd part. The Code never defines an all weather flag. The closest thing to a definition comes from the American Legion, which describes an all-weather flag as nylon or other non-absorbent material and adds that most flags are now made that way. We read that as a fabric test. If the cloth soaks up water and holds it, you have a fair-weather flag. If water runs off and the cloth dries on its own, it qualifies. So the answer to can you fly American flag in rain hangs on that one label.

Our own three flags sort like this. Our Durable Patriot is high-grade nylon, and we leave it up through an ordinary rainy week without a second thought. Our Everlast American Pride is 2-ply spun polyester with a heavier canvas-like hand. We built it for wind and weather on open lots. Our printed poly-cotton 3x5 is 30% cotton. Cotton absorbs water, so we treat that one as a fair-weather flag and carry it inside when rain is on the way.

Read the fabric line on the tag before you trust a product photo.

Weather by Weather: When Our All-Weather Flags Stay Up

We get asked about snow as often as rain, so here is the table we use at home. It assumes an all-weather flag in good shape.

Weather All-weather flag What we watch
Light rain or drizzle Stays up Nothing special
Steady rain Stays up A soaked flag hangs heavy and wraps the pole
Wet snow or freezing rain Comes down at dusk Ice stiffening the cloth or freezing it to the pole
Gusty wind Stays up until the fly end frays Loose threads at the free edge
Thunder and lightning Comes down if it is safe to get there first Nobody stands by a metal pole in lightning
Named storm or blizzard warning Comes down the day before Bring it in while the air is calm

Snow surprises people. A light, dry snowfall does little to a nylon or spun polyester flag, and we leave ours up through it. Wet snow is heavier and clings to the cloth. A flag that wraps around the pole in that state can freeze there overnight.

When We Take Down an All-Weather Flag in a Storm

An all-weather flag still has limits, and the Code leaves room for judgment. Our habit is to lower the flag the day before a named storm or a blizzard warning, while the halyard is dry and the wind is still calm. Ice on the cloth is another reason to bring it in. Thunder is a third, because no flag is worth standing next to a metal pole in lightning. Wind is the harder call for us. Gusts alone are fine for a flag built for them. What we watch is the fly end, the free edge opposite the pole. Once that edge starts to fray, every gust walks the damage further into the stripes. That is when our flag comes in, even on a clear day. On hurricanes, the American Legion puts personal safety first.

Our high wind guide goes deeper on size and fabric for exposed lots.

Winter Flag Care

Winter changes the clock before it changes the weather. The Code's custom is sunrise to sunset, and 4 U.S.C. § 6(a) allows 24 hours only if the flag is properly illuminated during the hours of darkness. In December the sun sets before many people get home. If ours stays up past dusk, it gets a light.

Ice needs patience. If a flag has frozen stiff or stuck to the pole, we wait for a thaw before working it down. Yanking frozen cloth free is a good way to tear it at the grommets.

We never fold a damp flag for storage. A wet flag goes over a drying rack until it is dry through, because damp folds invite mildew. Once it is dry, we fold it the way our folding guide shows and keep it somewhere dark and dry until the weather turns.

After every storm we look at the fly end first. A few loose threads are normal. Once fray runs into the stripes, we treat the flag as no longer a fitting emblem, and section 8(k) asks that it be retired with dignity. Our guide on how long an American flag lasts lists the wear signs we check.

Our Pick for a Winter Flag

For a porch or yard that sees rain and the odd snowfall, we fly the Durable Patriot in nylon. For a hilltop or a yard where winter wind never quits, we put up the Everlast American Pride in spun polyester. Both have embroidered stars and sewn stripes, and both are made in the USA. That is our whole answer to can you fly American flag in rain: pick the fabric first, then watch the sky.

Save the cotton blend for dry days.

Related from our blog: Best American flag for high wind · Nylon vs spun polyester American flags · How to fold an American flag

Questions About Flying the Flag in Bad Weather

Is it okay to leave my American flag out in light rain?
Yes, if it is an all-weather flag. Section 6(c) of the Flag Code lets an all weather flag stay up when the weather is inclement. Nylon and spun polyester fit that description, and we leave ours up through light rain. A cotton or cotton-blend flag should come inside before it gets soaked.

Can you fly an American flag in the snow?
Yes, an all-weather flag can stay up in snow. We leave ours up through light, dry snow. Wet snow and freezing rain add weight and can freeze the flag to the pole overnight. When the forecast calls for ice, we bring the flag in at dusk and raise it again once the weather clears.

What does all weather flag mean?
The Flag Code uses the term without defining it. The American Legion describes an all-weather flag as one made of nylon or other non-absorbent material. We read it as a fabric test: water runs off and the cloth dries on its own. Our Durable Patriot nylon and Everlast spun polyester qualify. Our printed poly-cotton flag contains cotton, so we keep it out of the rain.

Should I take my flag down in a storm?
Yes, for a named storm or a blizzard warning. Ice and lightning are reasons too. Section 8(e) of the Flag Code says the flag should never be displayed in a way that lets it be easily torn or damaged. We bring ours in the day before a big storm, while the wind is calm. Personal safety comes first.

Can my flag stay up overnight in winter?
Yes, if it is lit. Section 6(a) of the Flag Code makes sunrise to sunset the custom and allows 24 hours when the flag is properly illuminated during darkness. The American Legion prefers a dedicated light aimed at the flag. With early winter sunsets, we lower our flags at dusk or keep a light on them.

Sources

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