Is It Necessary to Unplug Devices During a Thunderstorm?

When dark clouds roll in and thunder starts rumbling, many of us feel a familiar hesitation. We glance at our electronics—TVs, computers, routers, kitchen appliances—and wonder: Should I unplug everything?

Some people swear by it, racing around the house pulling plugs from the wall. Others dismiss it as an old habit left over from a time before modern wiring and surge protectors. So which is it?

Is unplugging devices during a thunderstorm truly necessary, or is it just outdated advice passed down through generations?

The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. To understand it fully, we need to look at what actually happens during a thunderstorm, how electricity behaves, how modern homes are protected, and what risks still remain.

Why Thunderstorms and Electronics Are Even Connected

Thunderstorms are powerful natural events. At the center of the concern is lightning, which can release up to one billion volts of electricity in a single strike.

Lightning doesn’t need to hit your house directly to cause problems. Its energy can travel through:

Power lines
Phone lines
Internet cables
Underground wiring

This is where electronics come into the picture.

Your devices are connected to your home’s electrical system, and that system is connected—directly or indirectly—to the wider electrical grid. During a thunderstorm, that grid can become a pathway for sudden electrical surges.

What Is an Electrical Surge?

An electrical surge is a sudden spike in voltage that exceeds the normal flow of electricity.

Surges can be caused by:

Lightning strikes
Power outages and restorations
Downed power lines
Switching at substations

Even a surge lasting a fraction of a second can:

Damage sensitive electronics
Shorten device lifespan
Destroy internal components

Lightning-related surges are the most powerful and unpredictable of all.

Does Lightning Have to Hit Your House Directly?

No—and this is a key point many people misunderstand.

A direct strike to your home is rare, but lightning can strike:

Nearby power lines
Trees close to your house
Utility poles
Ground near buried cables

From there, the electrical energy can travel into your home through wiring, reaching plugged-in devices.

This is why damage sometimes occurs even when a home isn’t visibly struck.

What Happens to Plugged-In Devices During a Surge?

Modern electronics are highly sensitive.

Inside devices like:

TVs
Computers
Gaming consoles
Routers
Smart appliances

…are delicate microchips designed to operate at very specific voltages.

A surge can:

Overheat components
Burn circuits
Corrupt data
Cause immediate failure or delayed breakdown

Sometimes the damage isn’t obvious right away. A device may still turn on but fail weeks or months later due to weakened components.

So, Is Unplugging Necessary?

The Short Answer:

Unplugging devices during a thunderstorm is the safest option—but not always strictly necessary.

The Long Answer:

It depends on several factors:

The severity of the storm
The quality of your home’s electrical protection
The value and sensitivity of your devices
Your tolerance for risk

Unplugging is the only way to guarantee a device is completely isolated from surge damage.

Why Surge Protectors Exist (And Their Limits)

Many people rely on surge protectors and assume they make unplugging unnecessary.

Surge protectors are helpful—but they are not invincible.

What Surge Protectors Do Well

Absorb small, common voltage spikes
Protect against everyday fluctuations
Reduce wear on electronics

What Surge Protectors Cannot Do Perfectly

Handle a massive lightning-induced surge
Protect against all entry points (like cable or phone lines)
Work indefinitely (they wear out over time)

A very strong surge can overwhelm even high-quality surge protectors.

Whole-House Surge Protection: Is That Enough?

Some homes are equipped with whole-house surge protectors, installed at the electrical panel.

These systems:

Provide broad protection for all circuits
Reduce the impact of external surges
Offer better coverage than plug-in strips alone

However, even whole-house systems:

Cannot guarantee 100% protection from lightning
May allow residual surges through
Do not protect against direct strikes perfectly

They significantly reduce risk—but don’t eliminate it.

The Role of Grounding

Grounding is a crucial part of electrical safety.

A properly grounded home:

Gives excess electricity a path into the earth
Reduces damage from surges
Improves overall electrical stability

However, grounding does not make unplugging obsolete.

In extreme events, lightning energy can still overwhelm grounding systems.

Which Devices Are Most at Risk?

Not all devices face equal risk.

High-Risk Devices

Televisions
Desktop computers
Laptops (when plugged in)
Routers and modems
Gaming consoles
Home theater systems

These devices are:

Expensive
Sensitive
Often connected to multiple cables

Lower-Risk Devices

Simple lamps
Basic appliances with mechanical switches

Even so, any plugged-in device can be damaged in a severe surge.

What About Devices That Are Turned Off?

Turning a device off does not protect it from surges.

If it’s still plugged in, electricity can:

Enter through the power cord
Travel through internal components
Cause damage regardless of power state

Unplugging physically breaks that connection.

What About Charging Phones and Laptops?

Charging devices during a thunderstorm carries risk.

If a surge occurs:

The charger can be damaged
The device itself may be affected

While the risk is lower than with large electronics, it’s still present—especially if charging through wall outlets connected to the grid.

Internet and Cable Lines: The Forgotten Pathways

Many people unplug power cords but forget about:

Ethernet cables
Coaxial cable (TV/internet)
Phone lines

Lightning surges can enter through any conductive line.

This is why modems and routers are especially vulnerable—they connect both to power and to external communication lines.

Why Older Generations Were So Strict About Unplugging

The advice to unplug devices during storms didn’t come from superstition.

In the past:

Electrical grids were less stable
Surge protection was minimal or nonexistent
Electronics were less resilient

Unplugging was the only reliable protection available.

Modern systems are better—but not immune.

How Common Is Lightning Damage, Really?

Lightning-related damage is relatively rare—but not negligible.

Factors that increase risk:

Rural or open areas
Homes near tall trees or poles
Regions with frequent thunderstorms
Overhead power lines

When damage does occur, it’s often costly and inconvenient.

Cost vs. Effort: The Practical Question

This is where most people make their decision.

Ask yourself:

How expensive is the device?
How hard would it be to replace?
How often do severe storms occur where I live?
How inconvenient is unplugging it?

For many, unplugging high-value electronics during severe storms is a reasonable precaution.

When Unplugging Makes the Most Sense

Unplugging is especially recommended when:

A severe thunderstorm is expected
Lightning is frequent and nearby
Power flickers or outages occur
You’re leaving home during a storm

In these cases, the risk is higher—and unplugging is a simple preventive step.

When Unplugging May Be Less Critical

Unplugging may be less necessary if:

You have high-quality whole-house surge protection
You use certified, high-rated surge protectors
Storms in your area are mild and infrequent

Even then, it’s about risk reduction, not elimination.

The Myth of “Lightning Won’t Strike Here”

Lightning doesn’t follow patterns we can predict with certainty.

Many people experience damage after assuming:

“It never happens here”
“We’ve never had an issue before”

Lightning events are rare—but randomness is part of their danger.

Safety Beyond Electronics

Unplugging isn’t just about protecting devices.

During thunderstorms:

Avoid using wired phones
Avoid contact with plumbing during lightning
Stay away from windows and doors

Electricity can travel through many conductive paths.

Emotional Comfort vs. Technical Necessity

For some people, unplugging provides peace of mind.

That matters too.

If unplugging:

Reduces anxiety
Helps you feel prepared
Costs little effort

…it can be worthwhile even if the statistical risk is low.

A Balanced, Realistic Approach

You don’t need to unplug your entire home every time it rains.

A practical approach might be:

Unplug high-value electronics during severe storms
Use quality surge protection
Ensure proper grounding
Avoid charging devices during intense lightning

This balances safety, convenience, and realism.

The One Device You Should Always Consider Unplugging

If you unplug nothing else, consider unplugging:

Modems and routers

They’re vulnerable, essential, and often expensive to replace—and they connect to external lines.