Cloudy Pool Water After a Storm: What to Do

As a pool owner, lots of summer days are spent lounging by the pool. Unfortunately, summer weather can be unpredictable and pool time can be ruined by storms. 

After the storm has passed, you might come back to find that your pool water is cloudy. Contaminants — including pollen, leaves and other debris — could play a factor in why your clear pool water has turned cloudy after a storm. 

If your swimming pool water is cloudy, don’t worry! The experts at LinerWorld have a few simple solutions to help decloud your swimming pool after a storm.

Why Storms Turn Your Pool Water Cloudy

Storms can wreak havoc on your swimming pool in a few ways. 

• Debris overload: Leaves, dirt, bugs, and other gunk can fall or blow into the pool thanks to the wind and rain. 
• Chemical imbalance: The rain water may dilute the chlorine in your pool and throw off your pH levels. 
• Poor water circulation: Storms can impact power to your pump and filter system and make it difficult for your filter to keep up. When that happens, water can become stagnant fast. 

With stagnant water, debris in the pool, and chemicals out of wack, it doesn’t take much time before your pool becomes cloudy and a breeding ground for algae. 

What to Do If Your Pool Water is Cloudy After Rain

If you find yourself staring at cloudy water after a storm, here’s what you should do. 

Step 1: Remove Debris & Clean Your Swimming Pool

After the storm, the first step toward declouding your pool water is cleaning the pool and removing any leaves, sticks, and other debris. All that dirt and contaminants are throwing off your water chemistry and clouding up your water. 

Start by removing any floating debris with a skimmer net. Then brush or scrub the walls and floor to dislodge any dirt or algae. Finish with a vacuum (manual or automatic) to suck it all out. Our pool scrubbing mitt will definitely come in handy here! 

Step 2: Check the Pool’s Water Level

In some rare cases, a storm that sweeps through can impact the water level in your pool. It is important to check your water level to ensure your pool is operating with proper circulation and filtration..

You want to check the water level before you balance chemicals or run the filter, as the volume of water directly impacts chemical balance and circulation. 

Your water level should hit about half or three-quarters of the way up your pool skimmer. High Water Level

Heavy rain can raise the water level above the skimmer, which interferes with proper circulation and filtration. If your skimmer can’t pull in water, the filter won’t work effectively.

If your water level is too high, bring it back down to the proper level by using the waste setting on your multiport valve (if available) or a submersible pump.

Low Water Level:

Low water level is less common after a storm, but it can if the storm caused a leak or you had to vacuum out lots of debris.

If the water is low, you can use a hose to top it off. 

Step 3: Test your Pool Water

A strong rainfall may dilute the chemicals in your swimming pool. That’s why it is important to thoroughly check for proper chlorine, pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness levels after a storm. If everything’s out of whack (which it probably is), that leads to poor water clarity.

Many people are under the impression that rainwater is clean, but it isn’t. Rain picks up various particles from the air which can dramatically impact water clarity and quality. 

In general, you want to keep your swimming pool at the levels outlined below:

• pH: Between 7.2 and 7.8. Too low of a pH level can cause irritation whereas too high of pH can cause calcium deposits to form.
• Alkalinity: Between 80 and 120 ppm. If the level is too high or low it could cause problems with water clarity and chemistry or cause irritation for those swimming in the pool.
• Calcium Hardness: Between 200 and 400 ppm. Keeping the proper level prevents scaling buildup and reduces the chances of corrosion in your plumbing equipment.
• Chlorine: Between 2-4 ppm. If it’s too low, it’s not enough to kill bacteria and algae. On the flip side, too much chlorine can cause irritation to eyes and skin and cause unnecessary wear on your pool equipment. 

Step 4. Shock the Pool If Necessary

If chlorine is low or your pool looks greenish, you probably need to shock your pool. 

Add a pool shock treatment (calcium hypochlorite or a non-chlorine shock) to kill contaminants and clear out organic gunk that’s causing cloudy water. Follow the label instructions for the shock that you’re using. 

Step 5: Run the Pump and Filter Your Water

After completing all the steps, it is time to run your pool pump and filter your water. This will allow water to turn over and come out clear. Generally, you’ll want to let your filter and pump run consistently for about 24-48 hours to let the water fully cycle through. 

Step 6: Retest and Fine-Tune

After 24–48 hours, it’s time to test your water again. Keep tweaking as needed until all chemical levels are back in normal range.

If your pool still looks cloudy, you may also want to consider a pool clarifier or flocculant. 

Keep Your Pool Clear Next Time

While storms can make your pool water cloudy, there are some things you can do to help keep your water clear. 

• Cover your pool: When storms are in the forecast, use a pool cover to protect your swimming pool from rain, wind, and debris. This will help keep the water clear and protect your liner from damage!
• Trim nearby trees: Keeping your trees trimmed back will help prevent leaves, pollen, and branches from landing in your pool during a storm and causing issues. 
• Keep up with maintenance: A pool that is in proper working order with balanced water chemistry is less likely to get cloudy following rain and bad weather. 

Don’t Let Summer Storms Disrupt Your Fun

Although cloudy pool water can be a headache, the steps to clearing it are simple. In no time, you will be enjoying your backyard oasis once again. 

If the storm damaged your pool liner, we’ve got you covered with unique pool liners and must-have installation accessories. 

Don’t miss these helpful swimming pool resources: 

• Prep Your Pool For a Hurricane or Storm
• Protecting Your Swimming Pool from Storm Damage
• What Kind Of Damage Can Wind Cause To An Above Ground Pool?
• Expert Tips for Testing Your Swimming Pool’s Water

Last Updated: July 29, 2025