Amazon’s delivery drones are built to fly through rain, extreme heat and freezing temperatures

THE TAKEAWAY

RICHMOND, Texas – The future of home delivery is taking off.

Amazon Air drones are designed to deliver packages to your doorstep through a wide range of weather conditions, from light rain and extreme heat to below-freezing temperatures.

FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne traveled to Richmond, Texas, to visit one of Amazon’s drone delivery facilities where packages can be flown directly to customers' homes.

The drones can carry items weighing less than five pounds that fit inside a shoebox, a category Amazon said accounts for about 60% of the items ordered through its platform.

Some of the most common orders include baby formula and over-the-counter medications.

WATCH: FDNY USES DRONE TO KEEP STRUGGLING SWIMMERS AFLOAT UNTIL RESCUE TEAMS ARRIVE

Just like any other flight, these high-flying deliveries are at the mercy of the weather. 

Amazon analyzes the forecast 75 minutes ahead of each potential flight, looking closely at wind, rain and extreme temperatures before determining whether a delivery can safely take off.

Despite those challenges, the drones are designed to operate in a wide range of conditions across the country, from light rain to extreme heat and temperatures below freezing.

NOVICE CLIMBERS RESCUED AFTER AI-PLANNED MOUNT SHASTA ASCENT GOES SIDEWAYS

Amazon Chief Engineer Hang Nguyen-Grove told FOX Weather that the drones undergo extensive weather testing before making deliveries, including exposure to water, spray and other harsh conditions.

SCIENTISTS DISCOVER A NEW WAY TO IDENTIFY WHERE MAJOR EARTHQUAKES COULD STRIKE

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

Amazon’s Prime Air service is currently available in 14 cities across nine states for customers who live within 7.5 miles of a delivery facility, though Amazon plans to expand its drone delivery service to nearly 500 cities and towns by the end of the year.