Ask A Scientist© Weather Archive

name        George
status      student
age         19

Question -  Is the risk of lightening stikes to people greatly
increased if they are in the shower?

Dear George-

   Lightning strikes to persons are a real hazard to people outside during
thunderstorms, but it is rare that someone inside a house or other structure
is injured by a lightning strike. Being in the shower would not increase
your chances for being struck by lightning. There might be a slightly higher
risk to someone talking on a regular phone, or to someone handling an
electrical appliance, such as a hair dryer or can opener, or anything
connected to a power grid or communications circuit. This is because
lightning striking those wires may travel into your home, and into the phone
or appliance you're using, and cause injury. That is very rare however, but
it is good practice not to use those appliances during a thunderstorm. And
it is probably a better practice to stay out of the shower during
thunderstorms also, not because you would reduce the chances of your being
struck, but you could react quicker should some part of your house be
struck, and you would need to leave rapidly.

Wendell Bechtold, meteorologist
Forecaster, National Weather Service
Weather Forecast Office, St. Louis, MO
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