# How to Configure Weather and Seasons on Your Project Zomboid Server (/docs/project-zomboid/weather-settings)



Weather and seasons affect gameplay, farming, temperature survival, and visibility. You can customize these settings to match your server's style.

Weather Settings [#weather-settings]

Edit `Zomboid/Server/[servername]_SandboxVars.lua`:

| Setting             | Default | Description                                                            |
| ------------------- | ------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `RainIsDestructive` | true    | Rain damages open containers and items left outside                    |
| `Temperature`       | 3       | Climate temperature (1=Very Cold, 2=Cold, 3=Normal, 4=Hot, 5=Very Hot) |
| `Rain`              | 3       | Rain frequency (1=Very Dry, 2=Dry, 3=Normal, 4=Rainy, 5=Very Rainy)    |
| `ErosionSpeed`      | 3       | How fast nature reclaims buildings (1=Very Slow, 5=Very Fast)          |
| `ErosionDays`       | -1      | Days before erosion starts (-1 = use ErosionSpeed scale)               |

Season and Start Date [#season-and-start-date]

Control when your server's game world begins:

| Setting      | Default | Range | Description                                             |
| ------------ | ------- | ----- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| `StartMonth` | 7       | 1–12  | Starting month (7 = July)                               |
| `StartDay`   | 1       | 1–28  | Starting day of the month                               |
| `StartTime`  | 2       | 1–5   | Time of day (1=7:00, 2=9:00, 3=12:00, 4=14:00, 5=18:00) |

Season Effects [#season-effects]

| Months             | Season | Effects                              |
| ------------------ | ------ | ------------------------------------ |
| March–May          | Spring | Moderate temps, farming begins, rain |
| June–August        | Summer | Warm, good farming, longer days      |
| September–November | Autumn | Cooling temps, harvest time, rain    |
| December–February  | Winter | Cold, snow, no farming, shorter days |

Common Configurations [#common-configurations]

Mild Climate (Casual) [#mild-climate-casual]

```lua title="SandboxVars.lua"
Temperature = 4,
Rain = 2,
RainIsDestructive = false,
ErosionSpeed = 1,
StartMonth = 6,
```

Warm weather, less rain, rain doesn't damage items. Start in summer for easy early game.

Harsh Winter Start (Hardcore) [#harsh-winter-start-hardcore]

```lua title="SandboxVars.lua"
Temperature = 1,
Rain = 4,
RainIsDestructive = true,
ErosionSpeed = 5,
StartMonth = 12,
```

Start in December with freezing temperatures and frequent rain. Nature reclaims fast.

Eternal Summer [#eternal-summer]

```lua title="SandboxVars.lua"
Temperature = 5,
Rain = 1,
StartMonth = 7,
```

Hot, dry conditions. Good for servers focused on combat rather than survival mechanics.

Erosion Settings [#erosion-settings]

Erosion controls how fast nature reclaims the built environment — grass grows through streets, vines cover buildings, trees sprout.

| Value | Speed                                |
| ----- | ------------------------------------ |
| 1     | Very Slow (almost no visible change) |
| 2     | Slow                                 |
| 3     | Normal (default)                     |
| 4     | Fast                                 |
| 5     | Very Fast (overgrown within weeks)   |

> 💡 **Tip:** Fast erosion creates a more atmospheric post-apocalyptic feel. Slow erosion keeps the world looking "fresher" longer.

Farming and Temperature [#farming-and-temperature]

Temperature directly affects farming:

* **Too cold:** Crops won't grow and may die
* **Normal:** Standard growing seasons apply
* **Too hot:** Crops may need more water

Starting in summer (month 6–8) gives players the most time to establish farms before winter.

Related Guides [#related-guides]

See also: [Sandbox Settings](/docs/project-zomboid/sandbox-settings) | [Sleep and Time Settings](/docs/project-zomboid/sleep-time-settings) | [Configure Your Server](/docs/project-zomboid/server-config)

If you need help, join our [Discord](https://discord.xgamingserver.com/).