Meteorologist answers if showering during a thunderstorm can be life-threatening

The top recommendation during a thunderstorm is to stay indoors. However, what you do indoors can also play a role in determining your safety. It has often been suggested that one should steer clear of water-related activities, especially washing dishes and showering. The only thing to do is figure out whether the advice is legit and find out the reason behind this caveat. Experts weighed in on the matter and revealed insightful reasons regarding safety during thunderstorms when you’re indoors, per The Washington Post. Data from the US-CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) revealed that around 40 million lightning strikes hit the United States each year.

Though the chances of being struck are less than one in a million, one-third of these are reported to be indoor injuries. 90% of people struck by lightning are often rescued and treated. You can never be too safe in situations like these, so it is always best to heed the advice of experts, even when you stay indoors. Regarding the question about avoiding water-related activities during thunderstorms, it is supposedly a good idea. “If lightning is traveling through the wiring or through the plumbing, you could get that shock,” Chris Vagasky, a meteorologist with the National Lightning Safety Council, shared his input. 

Sharing a reasonable explanation, it was mentioned that during thunderstorms, the current travels 360 degrees in a second. It means that even though you are indoors, the currents can seep in through wires, pipes and other materials. When it comes to water-related chores, many pipes and wiring can carry this current and induce a shock. If the plumbing pipes are metal, the water can act as a conductor, supporting the passing of the electric current. Christopher Bazzoli, an emergency physician, shared an additional input, per the Cleveland Clinic. He noted, “The current can easily travel along those pipes and when it’s looking for a way out at the end of the line, it can jump and strike a person from the showerhead or faucet.” This can result in a non-fatal electrocution, and in some cases, it can also be extreme or fatal.

There are not many reports that collect data regarding injuries caused by showering or engaging with water indoors during thunderstorms. Therefore, it is not easy to show how many people are affected. Nevertheless, experts recommend avoiding water-related chores like washing dishes, laundry and showering, among others, during thunderstorms. The physician further explained, “The good news is that conduction strikes in a home are typically far less severe than strikes outside because electricity needs to travel farther and has more opportunities to divide and dissipate in other directions when you’re inside.”

So, when can you shower if you’re in an area rampant with thunderstorms? The simple answer is 30 minutes after the last thunder you hear. “The most dangerous times for a lightning strike are immediately before and immediately after the storm. Lightning strikes can commonly extend 10 miles out from a thundercloud. So, if you’re able to hear thunder, you’re still within that strike distance,” Bazzoli highlighted. “Sometimes, a lightning strike can have so much current that if you’re wet, it may vaporize the liquid on your skin into steam and superheat it, which can lead to steam burns,” he cautioned. So, it’s best to skip that shower for a while and let the storm pass.