Should you shower during a thunderstorm? Risks and safety tips

You know that feeling: you’re two minutes into a shower, hair fully committed to the “wet poodle” phase, and thenboomthunder. Suddenly you’re not rinsing shampoo anymore; you’re negotiating with the universe.
So… should you shower during a thunderstorm?

If you want the safest answer (and yes, it’s annoyingly practical): skip the shower until the storm passes. The reason isn’t superstition or your grandmother’s flair for drama. It’s because lightning can send electricity through the very systems that make your bathroom such a lovely placeplumbing and wiring.

The quick answer

Don’t shower during a thunderstorm if you can avoid it. Public health and weather safety guidance commonly advises avoiding running water during lightning storms. The risk is low, but the consequences can be severeand there’s rarely a “must shower this second” emergency outside of a shampoo commercial.

Why showering can be risky during lightning

Lightning doesn’t need to hit you to hurt you

Most people picture lightning danger as a direct strike: standing outside, waving a golf club, auditioning for “Ways to Become a Statistic.” But lightning injuries can happen indoors, toomainly by conduction.
If lightning hits a home (or a utility line, or ground near the home), the electrical energy looks for paths to travel and disperse. Two big pathways inside buildings are:
electrical wiring and plumbing.

Plumbing can act like a highway (and your shower is an on-ramp)

Traditional plumbing systems often included metal components, which conduct electricity well. Even in newer homes with more plastic piping, there can still be metal connections and fixtures: faucets, valves, showerheads, water heaters, and sometimes sections of pipe or bonding/grounding components.
And here’s the part that feels unfair: water can conduct electricity, especially water with minerals and impurities (which is… basically all household water).

In a shower, you’re in contact with water, you’re wet (which lowers your body’s resistance), and you’re often close to or touching metal fixtures. It’s not the kind of “electrical safety” vibe you want.

“But my pipes are plastic!”

Plastic plumbing may reduce the risk compared with older, mostly metal systemsbut it doesn’t erase it. Many homes have mixed materials, and electricity can still travel through water and connected components. Translation: you don’t get a free “shower pass” just because your house is newer.

How risky is it, really?

The honest answer: the odds of being shocked while showering are small. Most people will shower through a lifetime of storms and never have a problem. But lightning is a “low probability, high consequence” hazardlike riding a bike without a helmet because you’ve never fallen… until you do.

Also, lightning doesn’t schedule appointments. It’s not going to wait politely until you’ve finished conditioning.
The safest strategy isn’t panic; it’s prevention: avoid water use during active thunder and lightning, and wait a bit after the storm moves away before resuming normal routines.

What to do if you’re already in the shower when thunder starts

If you’re mid-shower and you hear thunder (or see lightning flashes through a window), you don’t need to turn your bathroom into an action movie. Just pivot to “calm and quick.”

1. Turn off the water. Don’t linger. Shut it down and step away from the plumbing fixtures.
2. Dry off and move to an interior area. The goal is to reduce contact with plumbing and avoid being near conductive paths.
3. Avoid touching metal fixtures and cords. Skip the hair dryer for now. Also avoid plugging/unplugging devices during the storm.
4. Wait it out. Once the storm has clearly moved on, give it a buffer (more on timing below).

If this feels like overkill, remember: you’re not doing this because lightning is guaranteed to hit your house. You’re doing it because the simplest safety move is often the smartest one.

Indoor lightning safety tips beyond the bathroom

If your plan is “Okay fine, I won’t showerwhat can I do?” Good news: plenty. Indoor lightning safety is mostly about avoiding direct contact with conductive systems.

Skip these until the storm passes

• Baths and showers (yes, even a quick rinse)
• Washing hands or dishes with running water
• Laundry (washers and dryers can connect to plumbing and vents/electrical systems)
• Dishwashers (water + electricity = not your best storm-time combo)
• Corded phones and direct-contact wired devices
• Using plugged-in electronics that connect you directly to outlets/cables

Smart “wait-it-out” ideas instead

• Read a book (paper doesn’t need chargingvery futuristic).
• Fold laundry that’s already clean and dry.
• Prep a snack (no running water requiredthink pantry, not produce-washing).
• Check radar or alerts on a phone that’s not plugged in.
• Use the time to locate candles/flashlightsstorms love surprise power flickers.

Stay in the safest spot in your home

During active lightning, choose a place that reduces exposure to conductive routes:
an interior room, away from windows, exterior doors, and porches/balconies.
If you have a basement, don’t lean on concrete walls or floors that may contain metal reinforcementsit on a chair, couch, or something insulating instead.

When is it safe to shower again?

A widely used safety rule is the 30-minute guideline: wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder you hear (or the last lightning you see) before resuming activities that increase risklike showering.

Why so long? Because lightning can strike on the edges of a storm system, even when it seems like the main action is gone. That “quiet” stretch after the heavy rain can still deliver a surprise strike.

Practical tip: if you’re unsure whether the storm is really done, use a weather app or local alerts. But don’t overthink itif you’re hearing thunder at all, treat it as “not shower o’clock.”

Does it matter where you live?

Yes and no. The physics is the same everywhere, but storm frequency and lightning activity vary by region and season. In many parts of the U.S., summer afternoons can be peak “pop-up thunderstorm” time, while other areas see storms tied to larger weather systems.

If you live somewhere with frequent lightning (hello, Florida; also much of the Southeast, Gulf Coast, and Plains), it’s worth building a habit: check the forecast before you start a shower, especially if you’re timing it near a known storm window.

Special situations people worry about

Apartments, high-rises, and hotels

You might assume taller buildings are “grounded better,” so you’re safe. While large, well-built structures generally offer strong protection overall, indoor safety guidance still recommends avoiding contact with plumbing and wiring during active storms. In other words: the building helps, but you can still make smarter choices inside it.

Well water and rural homes

Rural properties may have long runs of plumbing, pumps, and electrical systems. That doesn’t mean you’re doomedit means you should take the same basic precautions: avoid running water and unplug sensitive electronics ahead of time if storms are forecast.

Caregiving or urgent hygiene needs

Sometimes “just wait” isn’t simplethink caring for a child who got sick, helping someone with limited mobility, or managing medical equipment.
If you truly need cleanup during a storm, consider options that limit plumbing contact, like using pre-filled water from earlier (bottled water) and towelswithout turning on taps or running water.
If there’s any medical emergency, prioritize health and call for help if needed.

Protecting your home from lightning-related damage

Shower safety is about protecting people. But lightning can also mess with your home’s systems and electronics through surges.
If you live in a storm-prone area, these are sensible protective steps to discuss with a professional:

• Whole-home surge protection (installed by a licensed electrician)
• Point-of-use surge protectors for electronics (still unplugging during severe storms is safest)
• Lightning protection systems for the structure (especially in high-risk areas or for certain building types)
• Routine checks on grounding/bonding (ask an electrician if you’re unsure)

Important note: don’t try to DIY electrical work based on internet vibes. Lightning and wiring are both professionals-only territory.

FAQ

Can I wash my hands during a thunderstorm?

Safety guidance often says to avoid running water altogether during active thunder and lightning. If you can wait, wait. If you can’t, keep it as brief as possible and step away from sinks and plumbing fixtures immediately afterward.

Are cordless phones and cell phones safe to use?

Generally, guidance treats cordless and cell phones as safer than corded landlines during lightningespecially when they aren’t plugged into chargers. The key is avoiding direct contact with wired systems.

What about taking a bath instead of a shower?

A bath is still water use, still connected to plumbing, and arguably keeps you in contact with water longer. If showering is a “no,” a bath isn’t a clever loophole.

If my home has a lightning rod, does that make showering okay?

Lightning protection systems can reduce damage risk and help guide energy safely, but they don’t guarantee zero risk for every indoor activity during a storm. The simplest personal safety move remains the same: avoid contact with plumbing and wiring until the storm passes.

Wrap-up

So, should you shower during a thunderstorm? The safest move is to wait. The risk may be small, but the logic is solid: lightning can use plumbing and wiring as pathways, and showering puts you in direct contact with water and metal fixtures.

If you hear thunder, treat it like a polite but firm “not now” from Mother Nature. Your hair can wait. Your safety shouldn’t.

Experiences related to showering during thunderstorms

If you ask a group of people whether they’ve ever showered during a thunderstorm, you’ll usually get two kinds of stories: (1) “I do it all the time and nothing happened,” and (2) “One time I did it and I will never emotionally recover.”
Both reactions make sense, because lightning risk sits in that weird zone where it’s rare enough to feel theoreticaluntil it suddenly isn’t.

A common experience is the “rushed morning storm.” You’re already late, you’ve already hit snooze, and then the sky decides to perform a full percussion solo. People describe standing in the bathroom doing the mental math: “If I shower now, I’ll be clean. If I wait, I’ll be safe. If I do neither, I’ll be late and damp.” The practical compromise many settle on is postponing the shower, doing a quick deodorant-and-dry-shampoo rescue, and moving on with the day. It’s not glamorous, but neither is getting startled by thunder while you’re trying to rinse conditioner from your eyes.

Then there’s the “mid-shampoo realization.” This is when you’re already under the water and hear thunder close enough that your shower curtain practically flinches. People often report the same sequence: a brief freeze, a burst of speed-rinsing that would impress a NASCAR pit crew, and a fast exit that feels like escaping a haunted housebut with towels. If that happens to you, the safest version of this story ends with you turning off the water quickly, drying off, and relocating to an interior room until the storm calms down.

Parents and caregivers often share another scenario: the “bath time betrayal.” You finally get a toddler into the tub (a victory already worthy of a trophy), and then thunder starts. The stress isn’t just about safetyit’s about logistics. In real life, people handle this by pausing the bath, drying the child, and turning bath time into “pajamas time” earlier than planned. Some keep a stash of no-rinse wipes for exactly these kinds of moments. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about having a Plan B that doesn’t require running water during active lightning.

Folks who live in storm-heavy areas talk about building routines around weather patternsespecially summer afternoons when storms can pop up fast. Over time, they get into the habit of checking radar the way other people check social media: not because they’re anxious, but because it’s efficient. A quick glance can tell you whether you’ve got a calm window for a shower or whether you should wait and do something else for 30 minutes. It’s surprisingly freeing: instead of wondering, you just know.

Finally, there’s the “family myth vs. official advice” experience. Many of us grew up hearing, “Don’t shower during a storm!” without ever getting the why. As adults, when people learn that the concern is about lightning traveling through plumbing and wiring, the old warning suddenly feels less like a quirky superstition and more like basic risk management. The punchline is that the advice was right, even if the delivery was dramatic. And honestly? A little drama is acceptable when electricity is falling from the sky.