To Shower Or Not During A T-Storm, That's The Question

By Chris Spears

DENVER (CBS4) - It's thunderstorm season and that means lightning strikes will become more common in the days and weeks ahead.

Approximately 500,000 cloud-to-ground strikes are recorded in Colorado each year and many of those are in or near the Front Range foothills and the Palmer Divide where a large portion of our population resides.

So what do you do when a thunderstorm is approaching and your plans include taking a bath or shower?

I was always taught that you abort your plans because you might get struck if the lightning hits your home, but I'm always amazed at how many people think that is a silly way of thinking.

When lightning strikes electricity in that bolt is looking for the path of least resistance to get into the ground and that could mean traveling through plumbing inside your home.

In addition, impurities in the water supply can also act as a conductor of electrical current.

If you're thinking you might be safe because the plumbing inside your home is mostly plastic, think again. While plastic is a poor conductor compared to metal, it could still carry some energy, and, at some point, that plastic plumbing might hook into metal pipes.

Despite the warning to avoid washing dishes or taking a shower during a thunderstorm there are still some people who question the logic, including the Mythbusters from the Discovery Channel.

Click here to find out what they learned during a segment called, "Is It Dangerous To Take A Shower During A Thunderstorm?"

Meteorologist Chris Spears writes about stories related to weather and climate in Colorado. Check out his bio, connect with him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @ChrisCBS4.