Can Weather Affect Your Computer?

It's been hot here in Northern Kentucky, and I hear it's been hot all across the Midwest.  The heat is probably the reason why I received this email:

You've said that heat is a computer's enemy.  If I leave my phone or laptop in the car, will the heat eventually kill it?

Yes, it is true that heat is the enemy of a computer.  However, computers regularly run at temperatures much greater than we will ever reach outside.  For example, the maximum safe operating temperature of the CPU in my primary computer is listed as 158 degrees.

However, this does not mean that it is completely safe to leave your device in your car all day.  Heat can affect your hard drive and battery, and high humidity can cause condensation build-up inside your device.  In general, you should do your best to keep your computer away from temperatures over 90 degrees.

Cold can also present a problem for your device.  When I was in high school, I actually had a calculator's LCD screen crack after I left it in my car on a cold day.  Cold temperatures can also cause a build-up of condensation when you bring it back into warmth.  Even if you have touch-screen gloves, I would recommend keeping your phone in your pocket as much as possible.

To put it simply, our devices may be excellent at managing large amounts of internal heat, but they are not designed to be operated in excessive temperatures outside.  If you must leave your device in a hot or cold car, give it some time to adjust back to room temperature before you turn it on.