Why You Really Shouldn't Shower or Bathe During a Thunderstorm

Ever had someone tell you not to shower or bathe during a storm and thought they were being overly dramatic? Well, it turns out they were spot-on about this one. Showering or bathing during thunderstorms is actually dangerous, and there's real science backing up why waiting until the lightning passes makes sense.

This isn't some outdated superstition—every year, 10 to 20 people in the US get zapped by lightning while using water during storms. Some of those incidents turn fatal. The CDC, National Weather Service, and basically every safety expert out there agree: stay away from the shower when thunder starts rumbling.

How Lightning Actually Gets You Indoors

Here's what catches most people off guard: about one-third of all lightning injuries happen indoors. Being inside doesn't automatically protect anyone from lightning strikes.

When lightning smacks a building, that enormous electrical charge needs somewhere to go. It races through any conductive material it finds—metal wiring, plumbing pipes, and water. Houses essentially become giant electrical conductors, with current zipping through walls, pipes, and fixtures searching for the easiest route to the ground.