It's not just bad weather - during a time of crisis or disaster as well. I was taking my toddler on a bike ride when severe weather started rolling in then the I-35W bridge collapsed in Minneapolis. Mrs. Velo was trying to call me on the cell phone to see if she needed to pick us up but she couldn't get on the network because everyone was calling their loved ones to see if they were okay. Having cellular connection as your only lifeline during times of crisis may be a bad thing with absolutely no back up.
I have never had this happen. Was this recent?
Maybe I've been lucky but I haven't had cell disruption for any reason in, jeesh, a decade+?