No Phones in Thunderstorms? Seriously?
Okay, so let’s talk thunderstorms. I don’t know about you, but growing up, I was always told to put my phone down the second I heard thunder rumble. The idea was that my little Nokia (back in the day) was basically a lightning magnet, just waiting to be struck. It was scary stuff! But as I got older, I started to wonder: is that really true?
Turns out, like a lot of things we hear as kids, this one’s a bit of a myth. While thunderstorms are definitely dangerous, your phone isn’t the thing you need to worry about attracting lightning. Let me explain.
What is a thunderstorm?
First off, let’s talk about what lightning actually is. It’s a huge discharge of electricity, basically a giant spark, that happens between areas with opposite electrical charges – usually between a cloud and the ground. Lightning is looking for the easiest path to travel, which is why it often hits tall, pointy things like trees or buildings.
Now, think about your phone. It’s small, mostly made of plastic, and definitely not the tallest thing around, especially if you're inside. And that's a key point: inside. Most buildings, especially modern ones with metal frames or wiring, act like what scientists call a “Faraday cage.” This is a fancy way of saying they create a shield that blocks electrical fields. So, if lightning strikes the building you’re in, the electricity flows around the outside, protecting you inside. You’re safe to use your phone.
What's Main Features and the Real Danger during a Thunderstorm?
Main Features
1. Cumulonimbus:A towering cloud with an anvil-shaped top, which is the iconic cloud type of a thunderstorm.
2. Lightning:The phenomenon of static discharge between clouds or between clouds and the ground.
3. Thunder:Sound waves generated by the rapid expansion of air around lightning.
4. Rain and hail: Precipitation is common; hail is formed by repeated cycles in strong updrafts.
The Real Danger: Water and Electricity
The real danger during a thunderstorm is being outside. If you’re caught outside, you’re at risk of being struck directly by lightning, or by something called a “side flash” (where lightning jumps from a struck object to you), or even from ground currents (electricity spreading through the ground). In these situations, it’s not your phone that’s the problem; it’s being exposed to the storm itself.
Think of it this way: you're much more likely to get hurt tripping over something in your house than you are to be struck by lightning while using your phone indoors. The National Weather Service says the odds of being struck by lightning in a given year are less than one in a million!
So, Where Did The Idea That Phones Attract Lightning Come From?
Probably a mix of misunderstanding and old information. Back in the day, landline phones with long wires connected to outside lines might have posed a slightly higher risk, though still very small. But modern cell phones, which use radio waves and have internal antennas, don’t attract lightning.
How Some Thunderstorm-Related Accidents Happened, and Tips to Saty Safe?
1. Lightning accidents
Causes:
Lightning strikes people, buildings or trees directly.
Being close to tall objects, such as trees, towers, etc., may become targets of lightning strikes.
Using electronic devices or being close to metal objects increases the risk of being struck by lightning.
Consequences:
May cause casualties, cardiac arrest or burns.
Cause fires and burn buildings, trees or equipment.
Prevention:
Avoid going out during thunderstorms and stay away from tall objects and open areas.
Stop using electronic devices such as mobile phones and computers.
Install lightning rods to protect buildings.
2. Floods and flash floods
Causes:
Large amounts of rainfall in a short period of time exceed drainage capacity.
Rapidly rising river levels lead to flooding.
Heavy rains in mountainous areas may cause flash floods.
Consequences:
Destroy houses, roads and bridges.
People are trapped or missing, and property losses are serious.
Prevention:
Pay attention to weather warning information in advance.
Avoid staying in low-lying areas or near rivers.
Move to higher ground quickly when floods come.
3. Accidents caused by strong winds
Causes:
Strong winds during thunderstorms may blow down trees, power poles or other objects.
Gusts from squall line thunderstorms can cause localized storms.
Consequences:
Building roofs damaged, window glass broken.
Fallen trees injuring pedestrians or vehicles. Broken wires may cause electric shock.
Prevention:
Secure loose items outdoors, such as flower pots, billboards, etc.
Do not stay under trees or near unstable buildings.
Avoid driving during thunderstorms and choose a safe place to take shelter.
4. Hail disasters
Causes:
Strong updrafts in thunderstorm clouds freeze water droplets repeatedly to form hail.
Large hail will impact objects on the ground when it falls.
Consequences:
Damage to crops, vehicles and buildings.
May cause harm to people who go out.
Prevention:
Stay indoors as much as possible during thunderstorms.
Find shelter for vehicles to avoid being hit by hail.
Covering and protection measures can be taken for farmland.
5. Aviation and traffic accidents
Causes:
Thunderstorms reduce visibility, affecting driving and flying.
Turbulence and lightning pose a danger to aircraft flights.
Heavy rains cause water accumulation or landslides on roads.
Consequences:
Vehicles lose control and traffic accidents occur.
Flight delays may even cause flight accidents.
Prevention:
Reduce unnecessary travel during thunderstorms.
Slow down when driving and be careful to avoid flooded roads.
Aviation departments need to strengthen thunderstorm monitoring to ensure flight safety.
6. Equipment and power damage
Causes:
Electromagnetic pulses generated by lightning may damage electronic equipment.
Power lines are interrupted due to strong winds or fallen trees.
Consequences:
Power outages affect daily life and work.
Communication equipment is damaged, causing information interruption.
Prevention:
Unplug electronic devices before thunderstorms.
Lightning protection devices should be installed on important facilities.
Power companies should strengthen line inspections and maintenance.
Bottom Line During Thunderstorms
If you’re inside during a thunderstorm, feel free to use your phone. Check the weather radar, text your friends, doomscroll if you must. But if you’re outside and hear thunder, put your phone away and get to a safe shelter immediately. That’s the most important thing to do.
