Is it OK to play video games during a thunderstorm?

If the weather gets very bad or there's a lot of nearby lightning, just play it safe and shut down/unplug your PC, console, and other electronics entirely.

Is it OK to use electronics during a thunderstorm?

Avoid using electronic equipment of all types. Do NOT use anything connected to an electrical outlet, such as computers, laptops, game systems, washers, dryers, or stoves. Lightning can travel through electrical systems and radio and television reception systems. Avoid using corded phones.

Should I play on my PC during a thunderstorm?

Unless you have very good surge protection equipment you should turn off and disconnect your Desktop PC from power, LAN and phone lines during a storm. Even with surge protectors it is still possible that your computer may be damaged.

What should you not do during a thunderstorm?

Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches. Do NOT lie on concrete floors or lean on concrete walls during a thunderstorm. Lightning can travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring. Don't use corded phones.

Can I play Playstation during a thunderstorm?

But if you have the PS5 plugged into a good surge protector, it's not likely. You can use it anytime you wish but not outside where the rain will get into it. In your house, you should have things like PS, Xbox, PC, Laptop, plugged into a surge protector to protect them.

Why I'll NEVER Play Video Games Again After Learning This

Can a thunderstorm fry your computer?

Yes, if your home's electrical system is struck by lightning, it's going to produce a power surge strong to wipe out your computer, other electronics, and appliances. Even if the lightning strikes near your home rather than directly on it, you can still be hit with a power surge strong enough to do damage.

Is it OK to have your phone plugged in during a thunderstorm?

Anything that's plugged into an outlet in your home is at risk of suffering damage from an electrical surge during thunderstorms. If an electrical storm has been forecast, unplug your computer, laptop, and other devices, and consider unplugging appliances.

Should you turn off TV during lightning?

If severe weather is approaching your area, it may be a good idea to unplug your television, laptop or other electronic devices in your home. In some cases, lightning can damage them even if it doesn't strike anywhere close to your property.

Is it bad to have TV on during thunderstorm?

It isn't dangerous to watch TV during a thunderstorm, but the electronics in a TV set are vulnerable. If you have to make a telephone call, use a mobile phone detached from its cable rather than a landline device. Over-voltages resulting from a lightning strike may follow electrical conductors into the handset.

Is a car the safest place to be in a lightning storm?

NO! Like trees, houses, and people, anything outside is at risk of being struck by lightning when thunderstorms are in the area, including cars. The good news though is that the outer metal shell of hard-topped metal vehicles does provide protection to those inside a vehicle with the windows closed.

Should you turn off AC during thunderstorm?

Turn Off Your AC During a Thunderstorm

If this hits your home, a surge protector can't defend against that, so if your air conditioner is on during a storm, the electrical circuits within the system will most likely be severely damaged.

Should I unplug my ps4 during a storm?

You should never plug in any expensive electronics without one. The PSU on the console probably has some form of surge protection built in, but it's not enough to protect it against lightning. UPS is an uninterruptible power supply - it's exactly what it sounds like.

How close does lightning have to be to damage electronics?

Lightning strikes have been known to cause damage to electronic equipment up to a-half-mile from the point of contact, although this is rare. More localized strikes within 100 yards from the point of contact tend to cause more notable damage to the equipment's performance.

Should you turn off WIFI during thunderstorm?

If there is any lightning whatsoever, unplug your modem / router immediately! Turning it off is not good enough. A nearby lightning strike can send a power surge through various materials: electrical wiring, copper phone lines, coax cable, plumbing pipes. In fact, all of these things actually “attract” the lightning!

Where is the safest place in a thunderstorm?

The safest location during a thunderstorm is inside a large enclosed structure with plumbing and electrical wiring. These include shopping centers, schools, office buildings, and private residences.

Where does lightning strike the most?

Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela is the place on Earth that receives the most lightning strikes. Massive thunderstorms occur on 140-160 nights per year with an average of 28 lightning strikes per minute lasting up to 10 hours at a time. That's as many as 40,000 lightning strikes in one night!

What is the 30 30 rule for lightning?

When You See Lightning, Count The Time Until You Hear Thunder. If That Is 30 Seconds Or Less, The Thunderstorm Is Close Enough To Be Dangerous – Seek Shelter (if you can't see the lightning, just hearing the thunder is a good back-up rule). Wait 30 Minutes Or More After The Lightning Flash Before Leaving Shelter.

How long does a thunderstorm last?

The typical thunderstorm is 15 miles in diameter and lasts an average of 30 minutes. Nearly 1,800 thunderstorms are occurring at any moment around the world.

Do you unplug everything during a thunderstorm?

According to the Department of Homeland Security, you should unplug all of your appliances. This is because lightning striking near a local electric pole can cause a surge of electricity to burst through the power lines.

What to do in a thunderstorm inside?

– Go indoors as quickly as possible. Remember the phrase, “When thunder roars, go indoors.” Find a safe, enclosed shelter when you hear thunder. Safe shelters include homes, offices, shopping centers, and hard-top vehicles with the windows rolled up. – Seek shelter immediately even if caught out in the open.

Is it safe to turn on lights during a thunderstorm?

Here are six things we recommend you don't do when there's lightning. While it's not necessary to turn off everything, lights included, and sit dead still in the dark until a storm passes, there are measures you can take to keep lightning from causing serious damage to you, your home and appliances.

Can I shower during a thunderstorm?

Lightning can travel through plumbing. It is best to avoid all water during a thunderstorm. Do not shower, bathe, wash dishes, or wash your hands. The risk of lightning travelling through plumbing might be less with plastic pipes than with metal pipes.

Are houses lightning proof?

Myth: If you are in a house, you are 100% safe from lightning. Fact: A house is a safe place to be during a thunderstorm as long as you avoid anything that conducts electricity. This means staying off corded phones, electrical appliances, wires, TV cables, computers, plumbing, metal doors and windows.

Can I use Airpods during a thunderstorm?

Do not use telephones, headphones or electrical appliances during the storm lightning can travel through the wires and produce shocks to anyone using them. Note Cell phones are safe to use during lightning storms because they are not physically connected to the wires.

Is it safe to use a fan during a thunderstorm?

Just stay several feet away from it and you should be fine. One of the wires that connects to the fan is a ground wire. Any dangerous voltage that gets into a table fan, more than likely will take that ground wire to the earth, away from anyone several feet away from it.