Bathtub during thunderstorm

Be prepared. Check the weather before participating in outdoor activities.

To be honest, a nice bubbly soak with a storm soundtrack sounds lovely. But lighting is basically super-charged electricity, and as you may recall from general science in 4th grade, electricity and water are a bad combination. The reason bathing during a storm is dangerous has more to do with the conduction of the lightning than with actual bolt itself. See, the pipes that fill your bathtub are most likely metal—which is highly conductive. Plus, our water has all sorts of impurities with conductive properties. Each year, there are between documented cases of people getting shocked.

Bathtub during thunderstorm

You can also add newsletters iflscience. IFLScience needs the contact information you provide to us to contact you about our products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For information on how to unsubscribe, as well as our privacy practices and commitment to protecting your privacy, check out our Privacy Policy. Did your caregiver ever scream at you during a thunderstorm to get out of the bath? Is it actually a dangerous pastime, or is it just an old wives' tale? Firstly, a thunderstorm develops when there is an unstable atmosphere. When lightning starts to develop, the air acts as an insulator between the negative and positive charges in the clouds, and between the cloud and the ground. When the opposite charges have built up, the air insulation breaks and there is a rapid discharge of electricity — what we call lightning. This cycle will continue until the charges dissipate. The lightning is what causes the booming sound of thunder. The energy from the lightning channel heats the air to around 50, degrees Fahrenheit, which causes the air to explode outward. This pressure decreases rapidly and this forms the sound of thunder. When a lightning strike is about to occur on the ground, a channel develops towards the surface.

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Can you shower during a thunderstorm? It's long been rumored that taking a nice, warm shower is a dangerous proposition when electricity is coursing through the sky. And before we get into the truth about bathing during a lightning storm, let's first discuss why it's even a question. For one, there are a lot of silly myths about lightning. For instance, a plane getting hit by lightning generally isn't really that big of a deal — although pilots aren't crazy and do try to avoid thunderstorms , planes are built to safely conduct currents.

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Bathtub during thunderstorm

Listen up: There is no shame in wanting to hide in your bathtub when a tornado approaches, if only for the quite reasonable assumption that it's a convenient place to wet yourself in fear. But that doesn't quite answer the question of whether or not it's the safest place to be to ride out a storm. There are a ton of "try this in a tornado" myths out there, and you don't want to be caught testing out a worthless old wives' tale in mph kph winds when a cow is flying at your head. Just to err on the safe on side, let's start with a few places you should not hide in a tornado: freeway underpasses, mobile homes and your car. Underpasses create wind tunnel effects and leave you vulnerable to airborne debris, while mobile homes and your car are all one gust away from liftoff in tornado conditions.

Bag-o-day

In fact, lightning often strikes the same place repeatedly, especially a tall, pointy, isolated object. On This Page. Firstly, a thunderstorm develops when there is an unstable atmosphere. Avoid anything that will increase your risk of being struck by lightning, such as being near or under tall trees. View our privacy policy and terms below. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you might be in danger of a lightning strike. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Schedule Service. Do not shower, bathe, wash dishes, or wash your hands. Also, southeastern states are particularly at risk, with Florida and Texas having the largest number of lightning-related deaths.

Showering or bathing is not safe during a thunderstorm. People may be at risk of electric shock if lightning strikes a building and travels through metal plumbing.

When lightning starts to develop, the air acts as an insulator between the negative and positive charges in the clouds, and between the cloud and the ground. Typically, the lightning follows the path of least resistance, and that is normally through wires and plumbing. Please check your spam or junk folder You can also add newsletters iflscience. A Bible Scholar Explains All. Did your caregiver ever scream at you during a thunderstorm to get out of the bath? More Awesome Stuff. Also, southeastern states are particularly at risk, with Florida and Texas having the largest number of lightning-related deaths. But lighting is basically super-charged electricity, and as you may recall from general science in 4th grade, electricity and water are a bad combination. Even the old "rubber tires on a car protect you from lightning strikes" adage is totally false; a car is safe because it has a metal roof and sides to conduct the current to the ground. When the opposite charges have built up, the air insulation breaks and there is a rapid discharge of electricity — what we call lightning. See, the pipes that fill your bathtub are most likely metal—which is highly conductive. Even cell phones and other electronic equipment can pose risks if connected to chargers. For one, there are a lot of silly myths about lightning. This includes washing dishes.