Jul 24 2025
When you’re building workflows, you’re probably not thinking about the weather. And why should you, when automation is supposed to keep things moving no matter what? But the thing is, weather can have a much bigger impact than you realize. A storm that came out of nowhere can mess up delivery times, a heatwave can send energy usage through the roof, and even if it’s just a light drizzle, it can still tank foot traffic for your local business.
Now imagine if your workflows were able to react to those changes automatically. Trucks get rerouted before roads flood, marketing emails get tweaked to promote cold drinks on a hot day, maintenance crew is notified before a snowstorm hits… It’s proactive, not just smart.
Most workflows are blind to external factors like weather, so let’s see when yours should pay attention to the forecast.
Not every business has to worry about the weather, but for some, checking the forecast can be the difference between staying ahead and playing catch-up. Let’s take a look at some specific situations where that’s essential.
If you’re an event planner, weather is a make-or-break factor. Outdoor weddings, concerts, and sports events can all turn into chaos if there’s a sudden storm or a heatwave. But instead of checking your phone every few minutes to check the forecast, let workflows handle it. Imagine an automation that pulls in real-time weather updates and sends rescheduling emails or SMS alerts to guests and vendors.
The same goes for outdoor work crews. Construction teams or maintenance services can set up workflows to pause assignments when the weather is off.
What starts out as smooth logistics can become a nightmare if the weather catches you off guard.
Heavy snow, floods, or hurricanes disrupt transport routes and warehouse operations, but with workflows that pay attention to the weather, you can get ahead of the chaos. Shipping companies can automate rerouting for trucks or ships if the forecast predicts a storm and customers can get updates on delays in delivery. Warehouses can adjust staffing and shifts according to expected conditions.
These adjustments reduce delays and keep the supply chain running as smoothly as possible.
Marketing teams plan campaigns well in advance, but the weather isn’t exactly known for following schedules. Weather is getting less predictable, so campaigns should take that into account.
For example, retailers and e-commerce brands can build workflows and trigger promotions based on real-time forecasts. If heavy rain is expected, an online store could automatically launch ads for raincoats and umbrellas. Local businesses can do the same, with coffee shops promoting hot drinks when a cold snap is coming.
When these small adjustments are made right on time, they can improve engagement and drive sales.
For farmers, weather dictates how successful they are, but if all they can do is manually react to changes, their work is inefficient and risky. With workflows that include the weather, farm management systems can automate irrigation based on precipitation forecasts and make sure crops get enough water without waste.
Livestock care also benefits because weather alerts can notify farmers when temperatures are expected to change, meaning they can adjust shelter, feeding, or watering routines.
The energy sector is especially sensitive to changes in weather. Utility companies can use automated workflows to send out tips on how to save energy, or they can send usage alerts to customers to help reduce the strain on the grid.
Renewable energy providers can take this even further. For instance, solar farms can adjust their operations based on predicted cloud cover. Proactive measures like these deliver a more stable and efficient energy supply.
If you want to bring weather awareness into your workflows, you’ll need to connect reliable sources of data with automation platforms like Zapier, Make, or Integromat. The first step is to connect to Visual Crossing’s powerful weather API to get access to accurate forecasts and integrate them into the platform you chose. This gives your workflows the ability to ‘see’ what’s coming and respond accordingly.
Keep in mind that you shouldn’t just jump in and wire up every possible weather trigger. Start with a clear, specific use case where weather data will make a real impact, like rerouting deliveries during storms. Set threshold conditions that make sense for your business and, before you go live, test your setup with simulated weather data.
Workflows are creatures of habit and they do what they’re told, when they’re told. But as you’ve seen, weather has a way of throwing plans off course and it doesn’t care that your schedule won’t like it.
If you include the weather in your workflows, you’re almost giving them a sixth sense that will let your business adapt to what’s coming before it’s even here.
So don’t you think it’s time your workflows started acting like they own an umbrella?
From https://luhhu.com/blog/how-to-explain-zapier-to-a-beginner with anchor different apps you use to run your business
From https://luhhu.com/blog/how-to-automate-workflows-in-a-startup with anchor understanding your business events
Tell us what you need and we'll get back to you right away.