Do not use awnings in 'heavy rain'?????? Really???
Short answer NO.
I can lower my awning real low which gives it an almost straight down slant. When it is 'raining softly' I just lower the whole awning. One of THE reasons I like the manual awnings. I've seen where tipping just one side does not always work to protect an awning. I've seen more tipped awnings broke from a heavy rain.
That all said when there is rain coming you have to weigh the chances of a strong wind or storm surge. Trust me you do NOT have time to get out there and roll up an awning once the wind starts to save your awning.
In fact rolling it up during the wind "increases" your chances of it ripping off. Because once you release those side arms you have the perfect sail for that wind to hit and rip off and you will not be able to hold it down. Don't ask me how I know.
