SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/thunderstorm-corded-phone

There's a thunderstorm outside. Which phone is risky to use indoors?

A corded landline phone. Cell and cordless phones are fine.

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The Just Right card

Too littleUse a corded phone during the storm
Too muchAvoid every phone, even an unplugged cell
Just rightUse an unplugged cell or cordless phone

Huh, didn't know that: Metal does not attract lightning. Height, pointy shape and isolation matter most.

The dad joke
What happens when it rains cats and dogs? You might step in a poodle.
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References

Answer: A corded landline phone. Lightning can travel through phone lines and wiring into a house. Cell phones and cordless phones are safe to use. Just don't use one while it's plugged in.

  1. National Weather Service: Lightning Safety Indoors www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-indoors
    Stay off corded phones. You can use cellular or cordless phones.
    Checked 2026-10-09.
  2. National Weather Service: Lightning Myths www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-myths
    Height, pointy shape, and isolation are the dominant factors controlling where a lightning bolt will strike.
    Checked 2026-10-09.

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