Can You Grill in the Rain? (Yes-Here's How to Do It Safely and Well)

Grilling in the rain is possible with a few tactical adjustments. You don't need to cancel dinner plans because the sky opens up. Here's what actually matters-and when to head inside.

Quick Answer: Is It Safe to Grill in the Rain?

Yes, you can grill in the rain. Modern gas grills, including Monument Grills units, are built for outdoor use and handle light to moderate rain as long as controls, burners, and electrical components like igniters and smart displays stay dry. Protect electrical components and manage wet conditions to ensure safety while grilling. That said, you still need to respect the weather and adjust your approach.

Keep the grill lid closed as much as possible to maintain heat and shield the cooking grates and food from water. Every time you open it, cold damp air floods the cookbox, slows everything down, and increases cooking time. Maintaining proper ventilation is essential when grilling in the rain-never grill indoors or in enclosed spaces due to carbon monoxide hazards.

Avoid using electric grills outdoors in the rain unless the manufacturer explicitly permits it. Electric grills should not be used during heavy rain due to electrocution hazards. For gas and charcoal setups, here's a quick reference:

OK to grill:

• Light drizzle or brief passing showers
• Steady but mild rain with no wind gusts
• Cold shoulder-season days (40–60°F) with shelter overhead

Stop and move inside:

• Thunder or lightning anywhere nearby
• Wind gusts strong enough to move patio furniture
• Standing water pooling around the grill base
• Repeated flame outages from driving rain

The rest of this article covers shelter setups, fuel adjustments, winter grilling considerations, and gear like a grill cover that protects Monument Grills equipment between cooks.

How Rain Changes the Way Your Grill Cooks

Rain doesn't ruin grilling, but it changes the physics. Water can cool cooking grates and lower internal temperatures rapidly when grilling. Rain cools the air, affecting grilling temperatures, and falling droplets pull heat from every metal surface-lid, cookbox, grates-through evaporation and convection.

Preheat times typically increase by 25–50% in wet or cold weather, particularly on stainless steel gas grills with large lids. Rain and wind can lower temperatures quickly when grilling, and wind can disrupt heat transfer, increasing cooking times further. Keep the grill lid closed-every opening lets in moist air that stalls browning and searing.

Flare-ups become less predictable too. Fat drips can mix with water on flavorizer bars or sear plates, briefly cooling them before heat rebounds. On some Monument Grills models, infrared sear zones maintain radiant heat better in drizzle because the burner is shielded under a ceramic plate-but heavy, wind-driven rain can still overwhelm them.

Setting Up a Safe Rain Grilling Station with a Grill Cover

Focus on permanent or semi-permanent solutions that keep you dry while ensuring full ventilation. A BBQ shelter, like an open-sided pergola, patio roof, or awning designed for outdoor heat exposure, can effectively shield your grill from rain. Make sure it’s positioned so the grill hood opens fully and exhaust can escape freely.

Place your grill away from anything combustible to minimize fire risks. Maintain at least 3 feet of clearance on all sides and never grill inside enclosed spaces like garages or porches where smoke and carbon monoxide can build up. Set your grill near a windbreak, such as a fence, and angle it so the wind hits the back instead of blowing across the burners. Wind can easily blow out gas grill flames, so wind screens are helpful to keep flames steady.

Avoid holding a handheld umbrella while grilling—it’s impractical, can get too close to hot surfaces, and won’t hold up in gusty winds. Better choices include a sturdy patio roof with open sides, a pop-up canopy rated for outdoor cooking with plenty of overhead clearance, or a permanent vented structure over a built-in Monument Grills setup. Using a covered area or protective canopy is the safest way to grill outdoors in the rain.

Wet decks and patios become slippery quickly. Wear closed-toe shoes with good grip to avoid slipping, and consider placing non-slip mats around your cooking zone for extra safety.

Managing Heat, Extra Fuel, and Cook Times in Wet or Cold Weather

Rainy days can make grilling a bit harder, so many winter grilling tips apply even in fall. Plan for longer cooking times in rainy weather conditions, and prepare all ingredients and tools before starting to minimize trips in the rain.

Add extra fuel to maintain high temperatures in rain. Gas grills may need higher burner settings; charcoal grills require more fuel in windy conditions, and adjusting vents helps maintain steadier heat-expect to burn 20–40% more on a 35°F rainy day than on a 75°F dry evening. Store charcoal in a dry place to prevent it from becoming soggy and difficult to light. Wind can cause temperature drops in grills, so budget accordingly.

Add 5–10 extra minutes of preheat on a rainy 40–50°F day to ensure grates reach 450–550°F for steaks. Use two-zone cooking on gas grills-one side on medium-high, the other off or low-to buffer temperature swings if rain briefly intensifies. For charcoal setups, use a chimney starter for easier lighting in rain, keeping it under shelter and layering lit coals over existing ones during long cooks.

Cold Weather + Rain: Special Considerations for Winter Grilling

In northern U.S. states, sleet and mixed precipitation from November through March make winter grilling the biggest challenge. Cold weather and rain together dramatically increase heat loss from the grill's metal body and lid, demanding even more fuel and patience.

Cold weather can increase fuel consumption by 20–40%. Propane performance drops as the tank cools: vapor pressure falls from roughly 125 psi at 70°F to about 48 psi at 20°F, noticeably slowing burner output. At -44°F, the grill is unable to get propane to turn into gas for grilling at all. Keep cylinders as full as practical and shield them from direct wind while keeping them outdoors and upright.

Opening the lid at 25°F with sleet falling can drop the cooking temperature by 75–100°F in seconds. Use a good thermometer to monitor temperature fluctuations, ideally a remote meat thermometer that lets you check temperatures without lifting the grill lid. Monument Grills’ Denali series or Monument Grills’ Eminence series models with smart displays can help reduce lid openings further. Most models equipped with a ClearView® lid also let you check on your food through the viewing window, reducing the need to repeatedly open the lid.

Choose foods that are easier to cook under variable conditions when grilling in rain. Favor thicker cuts-1.5–2 inch steaks, whole chickens, bone-in roasts-and indirect cooking methods, which tolerate the temperature swings caused by gusts and drizzle.

Gear and Accessories That Make Rain Grilling Easier

A few targeted accessories make year-round grilling practical rather than heroic.

• Grill cover: A grill cover protects your grill from weather elements-rain, snow, UV, and debris. Size it to your specific Monument Grills model (4-burner or 6-burner) and always remove it fully before lighting.
• Wind guards: Heavy-duty wind guards shield grills from winds up to 25 MPH, and sturdy accessories should withstand rough weather and flying debris. For charcoal users, Kick Ash Baskets stabilize airflow and minimize wind mess. Bungee cords can secure the grill during windy conditions to prevent tipping. Pellet grills rely on pellets, so keep them dry between cooks.
• Gloves and apron: Long, waterproof or water-resistant grilling gloves and a non-slip apron keep hands and clothing dry near hot, wet metal.
• Thermometers: A reliable instant-read plus at least one probe thermometer lets you keep the lid closed and still track internal meat temperatures accurately.
• Lighting: Magnetic or clip-on grill lights are handy for dark, rainy evenings when visibility drops.

If your Monument Grills model includes smart monitoring features, these can reduce lid opening by letting you check temperatures via a display or app from under shelter (check your owner's manual for specific capabilities).

Food and Technique Tips for Better Results in the Rain

Pick recipes that forgive temperature swings. Marinated chicken thighs, sausages, burgers, and a sturdy vegetable dish in grill baskets handle uneven heat without drying out. Save the delicate fish fillets for a dry evening.

Aggressive high-heat searing is harder in a downpour-surface temperatures drop fast when the lid opens. Sear with the lid closed as much as possible, concentrating heat over fewer burners. Foil pans or cast-iron skillets on the grates work well for delicate items, preventing rainwater splash and evening out temperature swings.

If conditions worsen, start by cooking inside and finish on the grill outdoors. Ribs, for instance, can reach 190°F in the oven and then get a final 10–15 minute sauce-and-char session once rain lightens. Maintaining barbecue flavor in cold weather takes planning, but the smoky finish is worth it. Rest grilled meat under a loose foil tent in a dry kitchen or under shelter so residual heat evens out without exposure to wet, cold air before serving.

Protecting and Maintaining Your Grill After Wet-Weather Cooks

How you treat the grill after a rainy cook determines its long-term reliability. Once rain eases, shut off the gas at the controls and cylinder, then run burners on high for 5–10 minutes with the lid closed to burn off moisture inside the cookbox.

Brush grates clean while warm, then let the grill cool with the lid closed. Wipe down exterior stainless steel surfaces with a soft cloth to remove rain spots-follow up periodically with stainless cleaner per Monument Grills' cleaning guide. A properly fitted grill cover should go back on only after the grill is completely cool and dry, so you can leave it outside protected by the cover; trapping steam encourages corrosion even on stainless models.

After a wet season, check burners, ignition systems, and gas connections. Consult your Monument Grills owner's manual for model-specific maintenance schedules and warranty coverage.

When to Call It and Move Indoors

Sometimes the safest move is to stop when heavy weather makes grilling more trouble than it's worth. Abandon or postpone grilling when you see lightning, feel wind gusts strong enough to tip lightweight furniture, notice standing water near the grill base, or experience repeated burner outages from driving rain.

Finish cooking food inside by switching to cooking inside on a stovetop or in the oven when conditions turn unsafe, then resume outdoor grilling when the weather stabilizes. With basic prep, extra fuel on hand, and the right gear, committed grillers can comfortably use their Monument Grills setups through light rain, cold snaps, and most shoulder-season conditions all year long, even if that takes a little more planning than grilling in summer conditions.