How to Protect Yourself From Indoor Lightning Strikes

It's always smart to head inside when you hear the rumble of thunder, but indoors isn't a guarantee you're safe. Lightning can still reach you through wiring, plumbing, and even concrete walls. Here's what to know about staying safe during a thunderstorm — even after you've made it inside.

Understanding the Danger of Lightning

Lightning is one of the most powerful forces in nature. A single bolt can heat the air around it to about 50,000°F as it shoots toward the ground — hotter than the surface of the sun.

That's why the National Weather Service and NOAA built their long-running "When thunder roars, go indoors" safety campaign. The idea is simple: by the time you hear thunder, lightning is already close enough to hurt you, so the safest move is to head inside at the first rumble.

According to NOAA, about 300 people are struck by lightning each year in the U.S., and roughly 20 are killed. That's a tiny share of the ~25 million flashes that hit the country every year, but every strike is potentially deadly.