I know I’m not the only one who loves summer storms. There’s just something so satisfying about being cozy and warm inside, while the rain and thunder roar away outside.
Of course, growing up with summer afternoon cloudbursts also means growing up with Mom offering up lots of shock-and-awe warnings about what could happen if you don’t watch out and take precautions when the storm hits.
You probably remember being instructed to stay inside, even when what you really wanted was to run out and play in the rain like this sweet pup.
And if it was especially stormy outside, you probably got plenty of advice about switching off your computer, getting out of the bath, and staying away from the window, to avoid being struck by lightning.
If you were anything like us as a kid, you probably obeyed as long as your mother was watching, and then went back to whatever you were doing when she turned around. Still, to this day, you may be wondering, “Hmm, did Mom’s no-bath-during-storms rule really hold water?”
Well, read on below to learn which common pieces of thunderstorm lore are true!
Thumbnail Photo Credit: Flickr
Storm Wisdom #1: Don't Use Running Water
Parents love to say that you shouldn't run the tap while it's storming outside. That means no brushing teeth, no doing dishes, and no washing your hands.
The worry is that lightning could strike the household plumbing and travel in on the pipes, eventually hitting anyone with their skin touching the water.
This actually has happened before to a girl brushing her teeth in Croatia back in 2006.
Still, she survived her incident, and it was considered a highly unlikely freak accident.
In other words, it's possible, but not likely.
Storm Wisdom #2: No Showering Or Bathing
Showering or bathing during a storm is verboten for a similar reason.
If you were sitting or standing in a pool of water, the logic went that you stood a higher chance of getting a nasty shock if lightning were to come in through the plumbing and travel into that highly conductive water you were submerged in.
Again, this isn't unheard of, but it's very, very rare. It would be far more dangerous to swim outside in a pool or other body of water during a storm.
Storm Wisdom #3: Avoid Concrete
This one is a bit less ubiquitous, but folks in flat area prone to tornadoes may have been told to avoid concrete flooring and walls during a storm.
That's because concrete is conductive, especially when in direct contact with the earth, though to a lesser degree than water or metal.
If you take cover in a storm shelter or basement during a particularly bad storm, you want to make sure that the floor and walls are insulated or made of a different material to protect yourself from electrical shocks.
Storm Wisdom #4: Don't Dry Your Hair
Hair dryers can be a bit risky at the best of times — we've all heard a story or two about a woman getting shocked from dropping her dryer in the sink or bath and shorting it out — but are a bit more nerve-racking during a storm.
Mom always said to save any blowdrying, straightening, or curling for after the storm.
The idea behind this bit of wisdom is that electrical charges mixed with damp hair are a recipe for disaster, but your chances of getting struck this way are very slim.
Storm Wisdom #5: Stay Away From Windows
This is a bit of old wisdom that seems to be more rumor than fact.
If you grew up being told to get away from windows and doors during thunder, it might be hard to believe, but being close to the window isn't likely to increase your chances of being struck, but for the fact that glass is a relatively good insulator.
The bigger danger is during windstorms or tornadoes, which could potentially blow windows in and hurt folks on the inside with the shards.
Storm Wisdom #6: Take Shelter
We've all heard a million times that the safest place to be during a storm is inside your house, which is 100 percent true.
If you can't get to a house or other building, go for a car, or, in a worst case scenario, simply get flat on the ground so you are not the tallest item in the region — let a tree or skyscraper be the path of least resistance for the charge.
Please keep in mind that certain structures, especially metal-sided sheds, dog houses, and tents, are not safe during storms.
Storm Wisdom #7: Shut Down Your Laptop
Don't use your laptop, landline, or TV during a lightning storm.
It may seem like the best way to distract yourself while the storm goes raging by, but lightning that travels in through electrical wires is especially dangerous for plugged-in personal devices.
Most indoor lightning strikes take place when the current travels through a phone line, cable line, or electric code, so consider going off grid during bad weather.
How many of these had you heard before? Let us know below, and check out an awesome video of a storm building. Don't forget to SHARE to protect your friends this summer!
