Yes, avoid showering during a thunderstorm, because lightning can travel through plumbing.
Short answer
Avoid it.
Why
Lightning can travel through metal pipes and water. The CDC says you should avoid plumbing during a storm.
Risk
Rare but real. About 10% of lightning injuries in some studies were related to plumbing.
What to avoid
Showers, baths, washing dishes and using corded phones.
Safe
Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder.
Rule
“When thunder roars, go indoors.”
Lightning facts
The US National Weather Service advises avoiding plumbing and water use during thunderstorms. Lightning can travel through metal pipes and water, and the CDC lists bathing, showering and washing dishes as activities to avoid. Plastic pipes do not remove the risk, because water in pipes still conducts.
- Lightning strikes about 20 to 25 million times per year in the US cloud-to-ground, according to NOAA.
- Around 20 Americans die from lightning each year on average over the past decade, and many more are injured.
- A study of injuries reported by the CDC in the 1990s attributed a small share of lightning injuries to indoor plumbing contact.
What to do instead
Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before returning to the water. Avoid corded phones, which can carry current, though cell phones and cordless phones are safe. Unplug electronics if lightning is nearby, and use surge protectors because they cannot stop a direct hit. The NWS rule is “When thunder roars, go indoors,” and being indoors in a substantial building is the safest place.
Lightning facts
The CDC says about 20 people are killed by lightning in the US each year. Lightning can travel through plumbing and electrical wires, and the CDC and National Weather Service advise avoiding showering, washing dishes or using plumbing during a thunderstorm. Plastic pipes do not fully protect.
What to do
Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before returning to water use. Stay away from corded phones, electrical appliances and windows. When thunder roars, go indoors. Cellphones are safe indoors.
How lightning enters plumbing
Lightning travels through metal pipes and electrical wiring. The CDC reports about 10 percent of lightning injuries in the home come from plumbing and phones. The National Weather Service says the safest places during storms are enclosed buildings and hard topped vehicles. When thunder roars, go indoors.
Statistics
Lightning deaths in the US averaged 20 per year over 2013 to 2022, down from about 50 per year in the 1990s. Most victims are male and outdoors. The NWS 30-30 rule: if the gap between flash and thunder is under 30 seconds, go inside, and stay 30 minutes after the last thunder.
Based on data from the National Weather Service and the CDC
