Is it dangerous to shower during a thunderstorm ?

Thunderstorms are amazing natural events that often include loud thunder, heavy rain, and lightning strikes. Most people know how dangerous it is to be outside during a storm, but fewer think about how hazardous it is to do certain things inside, like taking a shower.

Many people are aware that it’s not safe to take a shower during a storm. Does this make sense, or is it simply a myth? This blog will look at the science of lightning, how water carries electricity, how modern plumbing works, and real-life examples to find out if showering during a thunderstorm is actually dangerous.

Learning About Lightning and How It Acts

What Is Lightning?

Sometimes, when the storm clouds and the ground are not lined up, static electricity can turn into lightning. An electric current is made by this discharge. This current can carry up to 100 million volts of energy and reach temperatures higher than the sun’s surface.

What makes lightning happen?

Most of the time, lightning hits where there is the least resistance. It looks for big things, things that are electrically charged, and places that are electrically charged. When lightning hits the ground, it can go through metal pipes, water, and dirt, among other things.

The ground current is a big point.

Ground current is one of the most dangerous things about lightning. Things that conduct electricity move electricity when lightning hits them. Thus, electricity can still reach your home through pipes, electrical wiring, and other buildings, even if the strike is far away.

What role do pipes and water play in the flow of electricity?

Being able to conduct electricity

Pure water (H2O) makes it hard for electricity to flow through it. But the water in our homes is a great carrier because it has minerals, salts, and other things dissolved in it. In other words, if lightning hits a water system, electricity can get into it through the wires and end up in the water.

Pipes made of metal and plastic

The materials used in your water system have a big effect on the risk of electrical conduction:

Metal lines made of copper or galvanised steel are great for moving energy. If lightning hits nearby, the metal pipes in your shower could let electricity in.
The materials used to make PVC and PEX lines don’t usually let energy flow through them well. Water that flows through plastic lines can still be charged, though, if the system has metal parts.

How well bathroom fixtures conduct electricity

There is still a chance even if your home has plastic lines. Metal parts in many toilets, like showerheads, drains, and faucets, are powered by electricity. If lightning hits the pipes, someone in the shower could become a path for the electricity to flow.

Research and the thoughts of experts

Showering during a thunderstorm poses significant risks due to the conductive properties of both water and metal plumbing, which can channel electricity from lightning strikes directly to you. Aaron Treadway, a lightning safety expert with the National Weather Service (NWS), emphasises that metal pipes and the water within them are excellent conductors of electricity. Consequently, if lightning strikes a home or nearby area, it can travel through plumbing, making activities like showering, bathing, or washing dishes hazardous during a thunderstorm. ADT+3Reader’s Digest+3Cleveland Clinic+3
Dr. Richard Bazzoli from the Cleveland Clinic advises waiting at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder before resuming the use of water-related appliances. He notes that lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from a thunderstorm, so if you can hear thunder, you’re within striking distance. Cleveland Clinic
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also warns against using plumbing during a thunderstorm, highlighting that both metal pipes and water can conduct electricity. They recommend avoiding activities such as bathing, showering, washing dishes, or any other contact with water during a thunderstorm to reduce the risk of electric shock. Reader’s Digest ADT
In summary, experts unanimously agree that it is unsafe to shower during a thunderstorm due to the potential for lightning to travel through plumbing systems. To minimize risk, it is advisable to avoid using water and electrical appliances during storms and to wait until the storm has fully passed before engaging in such activities.ADT+2Cleveland Clinic+2BGR+2

Case Studies of Lightning Injuries in Showers

Certainly, here are additional instances illustrating the dangers of using water-related fixtures during thunderstorms:

Colorado Incident (2005): A 16-year-old boy in Colorado was washing his hands during a thunderstorm when lightning struck nearby, sending an electric current through the plumbing. The teenager experienced a severe electric shock but survived with injuries.
Kansas Incident (2006): In 2006, a woman in Kansas was washing dishes when lightning struck her home. The electrical surge travelled through the plumbing, causing her to receive a significant shock that resulted in hospitalisation.
Brisbane Incident (2018): A man in Brisbane, Australia, was struck by lightning while taking a shower during a thunderstorm. The lightning travelled through the plumbing, causing serious injuries that required immediate medical attention.

These cases underscore the risks associated with using water-related fixtures during thunderstorms. Health authorities, including the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), advise against activities such as showering, bathing, or washing dishes during a thunderstorm, as lightning can travel through plumbing and pose a significant hazard. CDC

To minimise the risk of electric shock during thunderstorms, it’s recommended to avoid all water-related activities and wait at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder before resuming such activities. Cleveland Clinic

For a visual explanation on the dangers of using water during a thunderstorm, you may find the following video informative:

Because of these events, you should definitely not do anything that involves water during a thunderstorm.

More dangers inside during thunderstorms

Taking a shower isn’t the only thing that could be dangerous during a storm. Some other possible risks are:
Using the Sink: If lightning hits your home’s plumbing while you’re brushing your teeth or doing the dishes, you could get an electric shock.
Phone users with cords: Lightning can kill you if it hits a phone line.
Electrical appliances: When electrical appliances like computers, TVs, and other plugged-in devices are being used, lightning can cause a dangerous power surge.
Doing laundry: Washing machines are dangerous because they are connected to both water and electricity.

Do lightning strikes happen a lot when people talk about myths and facts?

There is still a chance of getting hit by lightning while taking a shower inside, even though it is less likely than when taking a shower outside. If you think your home is safe because it has surge protectors or circuit breakers, think again. Lightning can still damage pipes.

Things you should do to be safe during a thunderstorm

If you think a storm is coming, you should do the following things to stay safe:

Do not get wet. Wait until the storm is over before taking a bath, showering, washing food or using the washbasin.
Unplug Electrical Devices: To avoid power spikes, unplug any tools that you don’t need.
As much as possible, stay away from windows and doors. Strong winds and lightning hits can break glass.
Don’t use phones with cords. Instead, use smartphones or phones that don’t have cords.
Wait half an hour after the last thunderclap: lightning can still happen even if the storm seems to be ending.

In the middle of a storm, is it safe to take a shower?

The answer is no. Studies have shown that taking a shower during a storm is not safe. Even though power and plumbing in modern homes are better, the risk is still so high that experts highly advise against it.

Lightning can hit miles away from the centre of a storm, and thunderstorms can happen at any time, so it’s best to wait until the storm is over before using equipment that works in water.

One last thing: showering is not worth the chance of getting shocked. During thunder, stay inside and dry!

Is it risky to take a shower during a thunderstorm? What the Science Says About the Risk