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 safety limits, shelter setups, fuel adjustments, winter grilling considerations, and gear like a grill cover that protects Monument Grills equipment between cooks.

Rainy-Day Safety: Shelter, Electricity, and Lightning

Rain itself is rarely the danger. The risks come from what people do to get out of it, and from the storms that sometimes come with it.

Never trade ventilation for shelter. A gas or charcoal grill produces carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that can build up quickly in a partly enclosed space. Gas and charcoal grills are made for outdoor use only, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns never to burn charcoal inside homes, vehicles, tents, or campers. A garage with the door open is not a substitute for open air, and the same goes for a carport or an enclosed or screened porch.

Covered patios need real clearance. The National Fire Protection Association advises placing grills well away from the house and deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches. An open-sided patio roof or pergola is only an option if your grill's owner's manual allows it and every overhead and side clearance it lists is met, with smoke free to drift away. If you can't meet those clearances, grill in the open and let the closed lid be the rain shield.

Keep electricity and water apart. Anything that plugs in needs extra care in wet weather. Monument's rotisserie kits, for example, run on a 120V electric motor, so plug cords only into a GFCI-protected outdoor outlet, keep the plug and any connection off wet ground, and don't handle cords or plugs with wet hands. On smart models such as the Denali 605 Pro, the LED screen and knob lights run on a battery rather than a wall outlet; keep the battery compartment closed, and dry the control panel before the next cook.

Thunder means stop. A grill is a large metal object, and you are standing outside next to it. The National Weather Service's rule is simple: when thunder roars, go indoors, and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before heading back out.

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 run longer 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.

Where to Set Up Your Grill When It's Raining

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 shield your grill from rain, as long as your owner's manual allows it and its clearances are met. 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. Keep the clearances your owner's manual lists from walls, railings, and anything that can burn, and keep kids and pets at least 3 feet from the grill area, as NFPA recommends. Never grill inside enclosed spaces like garages or enclosed 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; a wind screen made for your type of grill can help keep flames steady, but never block the grill's vents or cover its openings to hold heat in.

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 or a permanent vented structure over a built-in Monument Grills setup, again only where the manual's clearances allow. If no covered spot meets those clearances, a rain jacket and a closed lid are the safer combination.

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. A cold, rainy evening burns noticeably more fuel than a warm, dry one; how much more depends on the air temperature, the wind, your grill, and how often the lid opens. 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.

Give the grill extra preheat time with the lid closed on a rainy 40–50°F day, and wait until the grates reach the temperature the recipe needs, such as 450–550°F for steaks, rather than adding a fixed number of minutes. Use two-zone cooking on gas grills, with one side on medium-high and 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 increases fuel consumption. 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. Propane boils at about −44°F, so it still turns to gas on a freezing day, just with less push behind it. Keep cylinders as full as practical and shield them from direct wind while keeping them outdoors and upright. Never warm a cylinder with a flame, heater, or hot water. A nearly empty tank falls behind first on a cold day, so check the fuel level when the flames stay low.

Opening the lid when it's near freezing and sleet is falling drops the cooking temperature fast, and the grill takes longer to recover than it would in summer. 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 help shield grills from gusts, and sturdy accessories should withstand rough weather and flying debris; choose one made for your grill type that leaves the vents open. 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. Our tips on knowing the right grill temperature every time explain why the lid gauge only tells part of the story.
• 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, run the burners on high for 5–10 minutes with the lid closed to burn off moisture inside the cookbox, then shut off the gas at the controls and the cylinder (or the supply valve on a natural gas grill).

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, and 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.

Stainless steel resists rust, but it isn't rust-proof. Most grill bodies use a grade that holds up well outdoors yet still needs drying and regular cleaning, as our guide to understanding stainless steel for gas grills explains. If you live somewhere damp or salty, these tips for keeping a grill from rusting on the coast cover weekly wipe-downs and using a cover without trapping moisture.

After a wet season, check burners, ignition systems, and gas connections. If a burner still won't light or the flames look uneven once everything has dried out, work through our grill troubleshooting guide before the next cook. 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. If a flame goes out, turn off the burner controls and gas supply and wait with the lid open for the time your manual specifies before relighting, and don't keep relighting in the same conditions.

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.

Grilling in the Rain FAQs