Thunderstorms often bring thunder and lightning, raising concerns about indoor safety, especially showering. While being struck by lightning indoors might seem unlikely, there is a scientific basis for this concern. This article explores how lightning enters a home, why showering during a storm poses a risk, and provides essential indoor safety information.
How Lightning Finds Its Way Inside
Lightning, a powerful discharge of electricity, seeks the path of least resistance to the ground. While a building offers protection from direct strikes, the electrical current can still enter through various conductive pathways. Metal plumbing pipes are a primary route, as they connect directly to water sources outside and extend throughout a home, often grounding into the earth. This network of pipes can efficiently conduct electrical surges from a nearby lightning strike.
Electrical wiring within a home provides another direct pathway for lightning. These wires are connected to outdoor utility lines and then to numerous appliances and outlets inside. A lightning strike to power lines or nearby ground can send a surge through this system, potentially damaging electronics. Telephone and internet lines, also connected to external networks, can serve as conduits, allowing lightning currents to travel into a building.
Modern homes incorporate grounding rods and surge protectors designed to safely dissipate lightning’s energy. However, these systems can sometimes be overwhelmed by the immense power of a direct strike or a very close one. The electrical charge will exploit any available conductive material, turning ordinary household fixtures into potential hazards during a storm.
Understanding the Risk While Showering
The concern about showering during a thunderstorm stems from the conductive properties of water and metal plumbing. Water is an effective conductor of electricity. When lightning strikes a home’s plumbing system or the ground nearby, the electrical current can travel through the metal pipes that supply water to showers, sinks, and other fixtures.
A person inside a shower becomes a direct part of this potential electrical pathway. The water flowing from the showerhead, combined with the metal components of the shower fixture and the wet body of the individual, creates a continuous conductive link to the plumbing system. If a lightning-induced surge travels through these pipes, the current can pass through the water and the person.
While such incidents are statistically rare, they can result in serious injury or even fatality. The severity depends on the strength of the electrical current and the pathway it takes through the body. Injuries can range from burns and nerve damage to cardiac arrest. This direct connection between the home’s plumbing system and a person in the shower is why experts advise against showering during a thunderstorm, even if the storm appears distant.
Essential Indoor Lightning Safety
To minimize the risk of lightning-related incidents indoors, several precautions extend beyond avoiding showers. It is advisable to refrain from all activities that involve contact with water or direct electrical connections during a thunderstorm. This includes not only bathing but also washing hands, doing laundry, or washing dishes, as these all involve contact with the plumbing system.
Unplug sensitive electronics and appliances to protect them from power surges carried through electrical wiring. Avoid using corded phones, as lightning can travel through telephone lines. Instead, use cell phones or cordless phones, which do not have a physical connection to the external network. Steer clear of windows and doors, as well as concrete floors and walls, which often contain metal rebar or other conductive materials.
Wait until the storm has completely passed before resuming normal activities. Experts recommend waiting at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder is heard before considering it safe to go outside or engage in activities that connect you to the home’s utilities. This waiting period helps ensure that any lingering electrical charges have dissipated and the immediate danger has passed.