The question of whether it is safe to bathe during a thunderstorm is a valid safety concern rooted in electrical physics. Lightning is a massive, sudden discharge of electrical energy that seeks the path of least resistance to the ground. While a home offers substantial protection, the infrastructure connecting it to the outside world, such as plumbing and electrical wiring, can inadvertently become a path for this energy. This potential for electrical conductivity means that certain common indoor activities carry a genuine risk when lightning is present.
Is Bathing Safe During a Thunderstorm
The immediate, direct advice from safety experts like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is to avoid all water-based activities during a thunderstorm. This includes taking a bath, showering, or even washing your hands or dishes. The recommendation stems from the fact that lightning can travel through a building’s plumbing system.
The risk is significant because about one-third of all lightning-related injuries occur indoors. A person in a shower or a bathtub is in direct contact with both the water and the plumbing fixtures. If an electrical current surges through the system, the person becomes part of the path to the ground, potentially leading to electrocution or serious injury.
The Path of Electricity Through Your Home
Lightning can enter a structure in three primary ways: a direct strike, through wires or pipes extending outside, or through the surrounding ground. Once the powerful current is in the ground, it seeks highly conductive paths, such as metal pipes, to travel. Both copper and galvanized steel plumbing are excellent conductors of electricity, making them dangerous conduits during a storm.
Tap water is never pure and contains dissolved minerals and impurities that make it conductive. This means the water stream from a faucet or showerhead can act as a bridge for the electrical current. Even homes with modern plastic (PVC) piping are not completely safe, as the plumbing is still connected to the metal infrastructure. The water main, which is often buried underground outside the home, provides a connection point. The electrical charge can still travel through the water or through the connection points where plastic pipes meet metal fixtures, such as the showerhead or bathtub faucet.
Other Indoor Activities to Avoid
Since the primary danger indoors comes from contact with conductive systems, safety recommendations extend beyond the bathroom. Any activity involving running water or plumbing should be avoided, including washing dishes or running a washing machine. The electrical surge can travel through the metal components of these appliances or the connected pipes.
Touching corded electrical equipment is also hazardous, as lightning can travel through power, phone, and cable lines. Avoid using corded phones, computers, or anything plugged into an electrical outlet during the storm. Also, avoid lying on concrete floors or leaning against concrete walls, as these structures often contain metal rebar or wires that can conduct a ground strike’s current.