Robot mowers in rain and winter: storms, frost, storage and what's safe

Robot mowers live outdoors, so owners want to know how much weather they can take: can they mow in the rain, should they come in during a storm, and what happens over winter? Here's what the IP ratings mean, how each brand handles rain, the storm and frost advice manufacturers give, and how Australian lawns change over winter. For the season start-up routine, see our spring guide. Checked 22 October 2026.

By Domestic Robot · Editor: Christian Ganaban · Updated 22 October 2026

Researched, not testedThis guide is based on manufacturer information, Australian retailer listings and independent sources, all linked below. We haven't used these robots ourselves yet.

Quick answer

Most robot mowers can be left out in the rain and keep working in light rain: popular models are rated IPX5 to IP66, which covers rain and hosing but not sitting in floodwater. Many park themselves when rain starts, using a sensor or a weather forecast, and wait a few hours after it stops. Thunderstorms are different: Husqvarna says to disconnect the charging station's power and wires when one's likely. In winter, warm-season lawns slow down below about 14°C soil temperature, so mow less often and higher rather than stopping, unless frost or a long dormancy makes it pointless; then store the mower indoors, charged to the level its maker specifies.

Can robot mowers get wet? IP ratings explained

An IP rating's second digit says how much water the casing resists. IPX5 means water jets from a nozzle; IPX6 means powerful jets; IP66 adds a dust-tight rating. None means the mower can sit in water: that would be IPX7 or higher. eufy describes IPX5 as fine for normal rain and gentle hosing and IPX6 for heavier rain, and calls mowers weather-resistant, not waterproof. Never use a pressure washer.

Mower	Water rating (mower)
Husqvarna Automower 305E NERA	IPX5
Segway Navimow i-series and X3	IP66
Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD, LUBA mini 2 AWD	IPX6
eufy C15, E15, E18	IPX6
ECOVACS GOAT O600 RTK	IPX6 (dock also IPX6)
Roborock RockNeo Q1, RockMow Z1	IPX6; Roborock says safe to rinse with a hose
Worx Landroid Vision M800	IPX5

From manufacturers' product and support pages (some from their UK or US sites), checked 22 October 2026. Apart from ECOVACS, the brands we checked don't publish a separate rating for the dock or power supply. Mammotion's Australian YUKA mini 2 page lists both IPX6 and IP67, so we've left it out.

Mowing in the rain: sensors and rain delay

Brand	How it handles rain
Husqvarna	Rain Guard parks the mower when rain is forecast and restarts the next full hour after it clears (connected models, not Aspire R4). Husqvarna says Automowers can mow “come rain or shine”.
Segway Navimow	Forecast plus sensors; pauses and docks when rain is forecast. H2 and X4 have a capacitive rain sensor and an adjustable delay up to 12 hours. PCWorld noted the X350 has no onboard rain sensor.
ECOVACS GOAT	Rain sensor; waits 3 hours after rain stops by default (adjustable)
Roborock	Built-in rain sensor with three rain-delay options
eufy E15, E18	Rain detection; returns to the dock when it senses rain
Mammotion	Rain detection on LUBA 3 and LUBA mini 2; YUKA mini 2 docks in heavy rain
Worx Landroid	Rain sensor; delay starts when the sensor dries, 180 minutes by default

Light rain won't hurt a rated mower, but wet grass clumps under the deck and wheels lose grip on slopes, so most owners set a rain delay. If your mower uses forecasts rather than a sensor, a passing shower can still catch it out. Our spring guide covers how long to wait after drizzle or heavy rain before mowing.

Storms, lightning, hail and floods

Husqvarna's Australian support page is the clearest: if a thunderstorm is possible, disconnect everything from the charging station (the power supply and the boundary and guide wires, labelled so you can reconnect them) and unplug the power to an EPOS reference station. A lightning strike nearby can travel along a boundary wire. We didn't find storm or lightning advice from Mammotion, Navimow, eufy, ECOVACS, Roborock or Worx, which doesn't mean it's safe to ignore; unplugging the dock's power supply before a severe storm is a sensible precaution for any brand.

No manufacturer we checked gives hail or flood advice. Husqvarna and eufy both say to put the dock where water drains away and won't pool. If a severe storm with hail is forecast, park the mower in a shed or garage. If a mower or dock has been under water, don't plug it in; contact the manufacturer.

Hot weather and charging

Australian summers can matter more than winter. Husqvarna rates its mowers to operate from 0 to 50°C and charge from 0 to 45°C, and says the mower won't start outside its operating range. Navimow's H2 and X4 stop mowing above 35°C by default (adjustable). Worx says its Landroid Vision won't charge if the battery is above 75°C, and to move the dock into shade. That's why Husqvarna recommends shading the dock from direct sun.

Frost

Lawn Solutions Australia says walking on frosted grass breaks the leaf blades, and not to mow until the frost has melted. Husqvarna's Frost Guard delays the start when its sensor reads 5°C or below and rechecks hourly; a forecast-based version is available on connected models without the sensor. We didn't find an equivalent feature from other brands, so in frost-prone areas such as Canberra, the Victorian and NSW highlands and Tasmania, schedule mowing for late morning in winter.

Should you keep mowing in winter?

Warm-season grasses (buffalo, couch, kikuyu and zoysia) slow down and go partly dormant when average soil temperature falls below about 14°C, according to Lawn Solutions Australia. That's more marked in Victoria and South Australia than in Queensland and northern NSW, and some varieties, such as Sir Walter buffalo and TifTuf, rarely go fully dormant. Its advice is to mow less often, still taking no more than a third of the leaf, and raise the height a notch or two.

For a robot owner that means cutting the schedule back rather than stopping: fewer mowing days, a higher cut, and frost and rain delays switched on. In warmer areas many owners mow all year. If your lawn stops growing entirely, or you're in a frost-prone area, storing the mower for a couple of months saves wear. Grass-by-grass heights are in our buffalo, couch and kikuyu guide.

How to store a robot mower over winter

Brand	Charge before storing	Where	The dock
Husqvarna	Fully charge, then switch off; most models need no recharging in storage	Indoors, dry, above 0°C	Store indoors if possible; if it stays out, keep it powered and wires connected
Segway Navimow	At least 85%, then start Hibernate in the app	Indoors, 5–45°C	Unplug, mark its position and store; cover the RTK antenna or remove its head
Mammotion	About 80% (LUBA 3, LUBA mini); 100% (LUBA 1)	Indoors if it regularly falls below −20°C	Store with the mower in very cold climates
eufy E15, E18	At least 85%, then power off; top up every 120 days	Cool, dry, indoors	Not specified
Worx Landroid	Fully charge, switch off; recharge every 2 months	Indoors, above 0°C	Can stay outside; tape the wire ends

From each brand's winter storage guide, checked 22 October 2026. Mammotion's advice differs between models; follow the guide for yours.

Before storing, clean the mower (a brush and damp cloth; Navimow says a hose at normal pressure is fine), check the charging contacts for corrosion, and fit new blades so it's ready for spring. Most of these guides are written for snowy northern-hemisphere winters; in most of Australia the decision is simply whether your lawn grows enough to justify mowing.

Do mower garages and covers help?

A cover keeps sun and rain off the mower and dock. Husqvarna says any shelter must have open sides for ventilation, warns it hasn't tested DIY roofs, and says EPOS (satellite) docks still need a clear view of the sky. Navimow sells Garage S and Garage L covers and says they don't block signals; Segway AU currently bundles a free garage with some i-series mowers. Mammotion warns against putting steel or corrugated iron directly over an RTK antenna, as metal can block or scatter the signal; timber and polycarbonate are fine. That rules out a lot of Aussie backyard sheds as an antenna spot.

Common questions

Can I leave my robot mower out in the rain?

Yes, for most models. Popular mowers are rated IPX5 to IP66, which covers rain and hosing. Don't leave the mower or dock where water pools, and don't use a pressure washer.

Do robot mowers mow in the rain?

Many can, but most park themselves when rain starts or is forecast, then wait a set time after it stops, such as 3 hours by default on ECOVACS GOAT mowers. Wet grass clogs the deck and reduces grip.

Should I unplug my robot mower in a thunderstorm?

Husqvarna says to disconnect the charging station's power supply and boundary wires when a thunderstorm is possible. Other brands we checked don't publish advice, but unplugging the dock before a severe storm is a sensible precaution.

Should I use my robot mower in winter in Australia?

Usually, at a reduced schedule and a higher cut. Warm-season lawns slow down below about 14°C soil temperature but often keep growing slowly, especially in Queensland and northern NSW. Avoid mowing frosted grass.

How should I store a robot mower over winter?

Charge it to the level the manufacturer specifies (from about 80% to full), switch it off and store it indoors somewhere dry. Husqvarna says above 0°C; Navimow says 5–45°C.

Sources

Get new reviews and price drops

One email when new reviews and price drops land. No spam, unsubscribe any time.