It’s not safe to shower during a thunderstorm

Your chance of getting struck by lightning is low, it’s important to know how to stay safe during a thunderstorm.

Most people are familiar with basic thunderstorm safety, such as avoiding standing under trees or near a window, and not speaking on a corded phone (mobile phones are safe). But did you know you should avoid taking a shower, a bath or washing the dishes during a thunderstorm?

When thunderclouds move over the Earth, they generate an opposite charge in the ground, and this is what attracts a lightning strike towards the ground. The path is usually the one of least resistance, so things that are more conductive (like metal) are more likely to be struck during a storm.

The most useful advice for a thunderstorm is: when thunder roars, go indoors. However, this does not mean you are completely safe from the storm. There are some activities inside that can be almost as risky as staying outside in the storm.

Unless you’re sitting in a bath outside or showering in the rain, you’re incredibly unlikely to be struck by lightning. But if lightning strikes your house, the electricity would follow the path of least resistance to the ground. Things such as metal wires or water in your pipes provide a convenient conductive path for the electricity to follow to the ground.

The shower provides both of those things (water and metal), making it an ideal path for the electricity to take. It could turn that nice relaxing shower into something much less relaxing. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention strongly encourage people to avoid all water-based activities during a thunderstorm – even the washing up – to reduce your risk of a strike.

There are other risks to look out for during a thunderstorm. One that may not seem obvious is leaning on a concrete wall. While concrete itself isn’t that conductive, if it has been reinforced with metal beams (called “rebar”), these can provide a conductive path for the lightning. Also avoid using anything plugged into an electrical outlet (computers, TVs, washing machines, dishwashers) as all of these can provide pathways for the lightning strike to take.