Could a snowstorm blackout fry my PC

[Computers Taste Like Metal]

I'm in dead center area of Snowpocalypse 2016 and the power very well could go out. My area has underground power lines but that might be not enough.

If the power goes out, and my PC is plugged in, what could happen?

Should I unplug it now? Or not? I kind of just got my CS:GO ban up and want to play.

It's plugged into a cheapo surge protector that's used for home theaters.

 

[jimmysmitty]

It is possible that if you do experience a blackout that the sudden drop could cause damage to your PC but it is very unlikely. More probably would be when the power comes back, it will cause a surge that could damage components more than losing power does.

 

[Computers Taste Like Metal]

Yikes! I'm going to just keep it unplugged when the storm arrives.

 

[Kurdain1]

Black out no, any transient spikes while it goes down or comes on, yes.

In a storm I always turn off my power strip and the switch on the back of the PC, the power supply switch. If you are REALLY worried unplug it.
Same would actually apply to all your electronic devices, smart TV's, stereos, etc.

In fact when we had some power lines go down in our neighborhood they were actively sparking for a short while, I happened to be coming home right when it happened so I went in and threw the main breaker to the house.

To be honest though most consumer devices, including PC's, have reasonably decent protection included, by hey a switch takes you 2 second to turn off.

 

[ComputerSecurityGuy]

Use a surge protector. If you aren't using one you could see some damage. And I would personally leave it off, because I find the thing constantly restarting in the middle of a round of surges annoying. Right in the dead center of Snowmeggedon Returns as well, in about the same situation. This is why you have a UPS for your router and modem!
Edit: I see you do have a surge protector. But yeah, electronics of all sorts I like to unplug for safety and just because they are annoying cycling on and off.

 

[Computers Taste Like Metal]

I have a 40 dollar rocketfish surge protector I found at best buy.

I don't have a UPS

 

[mjslakeridge]

As already suggested, I would be most concerned with a surge when the power comes back on. I have been through 2 hurricanes and lost power both times, once for 10 days. I just unplugged anything of value, and turned off my air conditioners to protect them when the power came back on. Good luck with the snowstorm, I see the media (even Foxnews.com) are hyping the storm as they always do, but it is better to be prepared.