Is It Safe To Shower During A Thunderstorm? Here's What Experts Think

Jul 21, 2018

Since only 1 in 3,000 people get struck by lightening, chances are you'll never know anyone who has been struck. While most of us are safe, there are some people who do things during thunderstorms that increase their likelihood of getting struck. Is showering during a thunderstorm putting your life in danger?

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According to the National Weather Service, unplugging your electronics, staying off of telephone landlines, and steering clear of windows and trees are all things that could save your life during a thunderstorm. While these precautions make sense, showering during a thunderstorm sounds like a myth people spread to scare their friends. As it turns out, though, experts say that you should take this issue very seriously.

The theory states that if lightening struck your house, it would snake its way through your pipes and give you a nasty shock. While this does sound improbable because of how complicated our plumbing schematics are, this could very easily happen in real life.

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We all know that metal is a conductor of electricity, but so is water. When you're in the shower, you're surrounded by both. Since most tap water is filled with impurities, this actually makes it even easier for electricity to travel through it. If you touch any metal that has been exposed to an electrical current, then the shock could prove to be fatal.

Ron Holle used to work as a meteorologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and he takes this issue very seriously. When asked about getting injured in the home during a thunderstorm, he replied:

Dr. Mary Ann Cooper, director of the Lightning Injury Research Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago, shares Holle's sentiments. She has studied numerous cases where people have died bathing, washing dishes, and even doing laundry in the middle of a thunderstorm.

While showering during a thunderstorm is not a myth, there is more false information being spread around about staying safe when there's lightening striking. If you're ever on an airplane or driving in a car during a storm, you don't have to panic. These modes of transportation have gone through many tests to ensure that they can withstand a lightening strike without harming passengers.

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Contrary to popular belief, the tires aren't what keep you safe in a car during a storm. The metal roofing actually directs the electricity into the ground. If you're in any car without a roof, don't think that the tires will keep you safe.

Check out the video below on lightning safety, if you have any further questions!

Did you know that showering during a thunderstorm is dangerous? Be sure to spread this information to keep all of your friends safe!

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!