The trees begin to sway, the sky darkens, and suddenly you hear distant thunder. This is a sign that a thunderstorm is approaching.
Do not underestimate that thunder because it signals that lightning will follow. Lightning can pose a serious threat to human life.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that lightning can travel through plumbing systems, hence “it is best to avoid water during thunderstorms. Do not take showers, baths, wash dishes, or wash your hands.”
Lightning strikes during a storm in Jammu, India. (Photo: AFP/TTXVN)
The agency adds: “The risk of lightning striking plumbing systems is lower with plastic pipes compared to metal ones. However, it is best to avoid any contact with plumbing systems and running water during thunderstorms to reduce the risk of being struck by lightning.”
Nevertheless, the CDC believes that this is not the only danger when you are indoors. The agency advises to stay away from porches and balconies, not to approach windows and doors, and “do not lie on concrete floors or lean against concrete walls.”
Additionally, according to the CDC, you should not use anything connected to electrical outlets, such as computers or other electronic devices, and avoid landline telephones. Mobile and cordless phones are safe “if they are not connected to an outlet via a charger.”
The National Weather Service (NWS) states that thunder occurs when lightning strikes, heating the surrounding air to temperatures of up to 27,760 degrees Celsius—more than 5 times hotter than the surface of the Sun. Immediately after a lightning strike, the air cools and contracts rapidly. This rapid expansion and contraction create the sound waves we hear as thunder.
Lightning can travel through plumbing systems. (Illustrative photo: CNN)
The CDC notes that direct lightning strikes are often fatal, but touching a car or metal objects struck by lightning can cause skin injuries, burns, brain, muscle, and eye injuries.
According to the NWS, you can calculate the distance between you and a lightning strike, but be sure to do this in a safe location to avoid being struck. “Count the seconds between the lightning and the thunder, then divide by 5. The result indicates that 5 seconds equals 1.6 kilometers, 15 seconds equals 4.8 kilometers, and 0 seconds is very close.”
The CDC reports that most lightning-related fatalities and injuries occur when people are outside, especially during summer afternoons and evenings. Approximately 180 people are injured by lightning in the U.S. each year, with 10% of lightning strike incidents resulting in death annually. Those who work outdoors, particularly in the Southeastern U.S., are at the highest risk. The CDC further specifies that Florida and Texas have the highest number of lightning-related fatalities.
According to the CDC, if you are outside during a lightning storm, do not lie on the ground. Lightning creates electric currents along the ground that can be deadly over distances of more than 30 meters. The agency emphasizes that there is no safe place outside. It recommends avoiding anything that increases the risk of being struck, such as being near or under tall trees. If no safe shelter is in sight, crouch down in a ball-like position: keep your feet together, squat low, tuck your head, and cover your ears. The CDC emphasizes that this is a last resort and “please seek safe shelter first.”
