Last Updated: September 3, 2026 | Eligibility: Uber Eats, foodpanda, Lalamove, and delivery riders working in the rain, as well as part-time newcomers in September.
When making food deliveries during an afternoon thunderstorm in September, the most practical step before accepting an order isn’t just checking whether the app is offering a bonus—it’s spending five minutes reviewing the Central Weather Bureau’s radar echoes, county and city weather reports, rainfall data, and special weather advisories before deciding whether to go online, take orders outside your usual area, or accept orders for beverages or soups. Radar echoes show precipitation intensity and distribution, which helps delivery riders determine whether a rain band is moving toward their usual delivery areas. If the rain is heavy, intersections are flooded, or visibility is poor, it may not be worth trading the risk of accidents, spilled food, or vehicle damage for what may seem like higher platform pay.
The Central Weather Bureau explains that radar echoes are signals reflected back by precipitation particles from radar electromagnetic waves; the stronger the reflected signal, the stronger the precipitation intensity tends to be. Therefore, radar echoes can be used to assess rainfall intensity and distribution. Delivery riders don’t need to become meteorologists, but they should understand that radar echoes differ from standard weather maps: they serve as a real-time reference showing “where it’s raining right now and roughly how intense it is.” Before heading out, simply glancing at a phrase like “thunderstorms in the afternoon” is too vague. What truly affects your ability to accept orders is whether the rain band is approaching your area, whether it will pass through a dense cluster of restaurants, and whether it might turn your return trip into an empty run or a high-risk situation.
Today’s decision can be quite simple. First, check whether the color of the radar echoes is getting stronger near the areas where you usually run; second, check the rainfall data and weather advisories to see if there are warnings about short-term heavy rain, lightning, strong gusts, or flooding in low-lying areas; Third, check whether your planned route passes through bridges, underpasses, areas near schools, construction zones, or major thoroughfares with heavy large-vehicle traffic. If two out of these three factors indicate a high risk, don’t force yourself to take on a long-distance cross-district run just because the pay is higher.
| 5 minutes before accepting an order | What to Watch | Delivery Driver's Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | Radar echoes, rainfall, and weather advisories and warnings. | When a rain band is approaching, first reduce the service radius; there’s no need to rush to expand into other areas. |
| Route | Bridges, underpasses, low-lying roads, school entrances, and construction zones. | When the water depth is unknown or visibility is poor, it is better to take a detour or pause for a while. |
| Meals | Number of beverages, soups, paper bags, and boxed meals. | On rainy days, prioritize checking the sealing film, cup holders, waterproofing, and interior compartments. |
| Physical Condition | Fatigue, visibility, the stifling heat of the raincoat, and slippery gloves. | If you start feeling sluggish, log off and take a break—there's no need to push through the mission. |
The most easily overlooked aspect of delivering orders in the rain is the “pickup location.” If a restaurant’s entrance happens to be next to a red line, a corner, a bus stop, or a school gate, it might just be difficult to park there on a sunny day, but in the rain, it becomes even more dangerous. You have to get off your scooter, pick up the food, check your phone, and secure the drink—and vehicles behind you might not react in time due to poor visibility. The theme of Traffic Safety Month reminds road users to practice the culture of yielding and prioritize motorcycle safety. For delivery riders, this means slowing down at intersections, not rushing through yellow lights, avoiding large vehicles’ blind spots, and not parking in areas that could obstruct pedestrians or buses—even if it saves just 30 seconds.
foodpanda’s Code of Conduct for Delivery Partners includes road safety as a service requirement, mandating that delivery partners comply with traffic laws and speed limits, follow traffic signals, use only hands-free devices while riding, avoid dangerous driving, keep their vehicles in good condition, and manage their online hours independently. Uber Eats’ safety information for delivery partners also includes traffic safety education, signalized intersections, blind spots of large vehicles, defensive driving, and fatigue management as part of its safety guidelines. These rules are even more critical on rainy days, as wet, slippery roads increase braking distances, and rain gear, water droplets on visors, and nighttime glare can all impair reaction times.
Food deliveries can also be affected by rain. As mentioned yesterday, there’s been an increase in lunch boxes, beverages, and group orders during back-to-school week. If there’s an afternoon downpour today, it’s even more critical to ensure that beverage lids and insulated bags are waterproof. Slippery beverage cups, paper bags that become soft from absorbing water, and soup sloshing around inside the box can all compromise delivery quality. When picking up orders, delivery drivers should first check that the cup lids, seal films, and outer bags are intact. If the restaurant’s packaging already shows signs of leakage or the cup holders are loose, ask the restaurant to help resolve the issue before setting out—do not take the problem out on the road. It’s not that you can’t accept beverage orders on rainy days; it’s just that you can’t handle them the same way you would on a sunny day.
Delivery income should also be viewed in terms of net income. Rainy days may offer bonus pay and increase order demand, but they also lead to longer setup times, longer wait times for meals, empty return trips, wear and tear on rain gear, and increased brake and tire wear. If the extra earnings from an hour are exactly offset by longer wait times and higher vehicle damage risks, then it’s not a worthwhile bonus. I suggest jotting down four figures after you finish your shift today: the time you went online, the number of orders completed, whether you encountered heavy rain, and your estimated fuel costs or the actual amount spent on gas. After tracking this for a few days in a row, you’ll have a clearer idea of which types of rain are worth driving in—and which ones just shift the risk onto you.
If you’re already online before the rain starts, we recommend narrowing your pickup radius to areas you’re familiar with. Familiar restaurants, familiar drop-off spots, and familiar alleyways are more valuable than unfamiliar high-paying orders. The biggest hassle with long-distance deliveries across different districts on rainy days is the return trip: after delivering to an unfamiliar residential area, the rain may intensify, there might be no nearby orders, and your phone battery could run low—ultimately resulting in an inefficient empty run. If the app assigns you an order in an area you’re clearly unfamiliar with or one that requires traveling through high-risk sections, first assess whether you can actually complete it safely—don’t just focus on the pay.
Don’t forget your phone and gear, either. Navigation uses more battery power in the rain; increased screen brightness, unstable network signals, water damage, or overheating can all cause delays in accepting orders. Before heading out, check your power bank, waterproof bag, phone mount, gloves, and raincoat; if your phone mount is wobbly, it’s better to fix it first before heading out. While riding, do not scroll through your phone to check your next order; wait until you’ve parked safely before doing so. This not only complies with safety and platform regulations but also reduces losses caused by accidental taps, misclicks, or crashes.
For further reading, you may also want to check out Safety Checklist for Delivery Rides in the Rain, First, make sure your rain gear, brakes, tires, and food are properly protected from the rain; if you’ll mainly be riding around the school today, you can check September 1: Route Schedule for the First Week of School; If you want to include the extra earnings from rainy days in your net income, you can refer to Actual Hourly Wages and Hidden Costs in Food Delivery; For information on how to secure the insulated bag and drinks, please refer to the additional instructions. September 2: Cleaning and Delivery Inspection of Insulated BagsThe
Frequently Asked Questions: Can radar echoes accurately predict whether it will rain shortly?
Radar echoes are primarily used to assess current rainfall intensity and distribution, and can help determine the location and movement of rain bands; however, they do not guarantee accurate forecasts. Delivery drivers should also take into account county and city forecasts, rainfall data, weather advisories and alerts, and on-site road conditions.
FAQ: Is it always worth running a platform event on a rainy day just because there are bonus rewards?
Not necessarily. Any extra pay should be calculated after factoring in waiting time, gas costs, equipment wear and tear, the risk of vehicle damage, and the risk of accidents. If the rain is too heavy or you’re unfamiliar with the road conditions, the short-term extra pay might not be worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions: Should I take drink orders during an afternoon thunderstorm?
You can take it to go, but first check that the seal, lid, cup holder, and insulated bag are all secure. On rainy days, drink cups can get slippery, and paper bags can get soggy, so make sure to secure your order before heading out.
Frequently Asked Questions: Can I pull over under a covered walkway or next to a red line to quickly pick up my order when it’s raining heavily?
It is not recommended to use rain as an excuse for illegal parking. Visibility is poor in rainy weather, and the risk is even higher near red lines, intersections, bus stops, and pedestrian walkways. You should first find a safe place to park before picking up your food or using your phone.
FAQ: How long should I run before taking a break on a rainy day?
There’s no set answer, but as soon as you experience eye strain, slippery gloves, a stuffy raincoat, slowed reactions, or a mistake while using your phone, you should stop and take a break. Pushing through fatigue will only lead to more mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions: Which number should I remember today?
At the very least, record your online hours, the number of trips completed, whether you encountered heavy rain, and an estimate of fuel costs. These four figures will help you determine whether the rain premium actually increases your net income—or if it just raises your risk.
Source:References for this article Explanation of Radar Echoes from the Central Weather Bureau,Weather Information from the Central Weather Bureau,168 Traffic Safety Portal,foodpanda Code of Conduct for Delivery Partners與 Uber Eats Delivery Partner Safety InformationThe
Delivery Reminder:Before you start your shift today, do one thing: check the radar echoes, then check the entrance to the store where you’ll be parking. On rainy days, the real way to save time isn’t by riding fast, but by avoiding rides that take you onto high-risk routes. This article is intended as general information. Weather conditions, platform rules, traffic safety, and ride acceptance criteria are subject to change; please refer to the latest official announcements and use your own on-site safety judgment.
