Severe weather can pop up across the U.S. at a moment's notice, especially in the warmer months. While most people pay close attention to tornadoes and flash flooding, lightning often gets overlooked — even though it kills about 20 people in the U.S. each year and injures hundreds more.
The trouble is that a lot of widespread "common sense" about lightning is just wrong. According to the National Lightning Safety Council and the National Weather Service, several persistent myths put people in real danger every storm season. Here are the most common lightning myths — and the facts you should know instead.
Myth: It's Safe to Shower During a Thunderstorm
The CDC warns against showering or bathing during a thunderstorm for good reason. If lightning strikes your home, the surge can travel through electrical wiring or metal plumbing. Activities involving water — taking a shower, washing dishes, or running the kitchen faucet — can put you at risk. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before turning water back on.
Myth: It's Dangerous to Use Any Phone During a Storm
Cordless and cell phones are safe during a thunderstorm. The myth dates back to corded landlines, which could carry a surge if the home was struck. The real danger today is using a phone that's plugged in and charging — if your home's electrical system gets hit, that surge can travel into the device. Unplug the charger and use the phone on battery power instead.
Myth: It's Dangerous to Touch a Lightning-Strike Victim
Don't hesitate to help. People struck by lightning do not carry any residual electric charge, and you cannot be shocked by touching them. The most common cause of death after a strike is cardiac arrest, so quick CPR and a 911 call can make the difference between life and death.
Myth: Lightning Won't Strike Without Rain
Lightning can strike well outside any rainfall. The NWS rule is simple: if you can hear thunder, you're close enough to be struck. Lightning can travel more than 10 miles from the parent thunderstorm — which is why "blue sky" lightning strikes happen well away from the visible storm.
Myth: A Tree Is Safe Shelter From Lightning
Many of us grew up being told to take cover under a tree during a thunderstorm, but that's one of the most dangerous places to be. Tall trees are natural lightning targets, and a strike can spread through the roots and along the wet ground, electrocuting anyone nearby. If you can't reach a sturdy building or a hard-topped vehicle, get as far from tall isolated trees as possible.
Myth: Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice
This one is wildly false. Tall, exposed structures get struck repeatedly. The Empire State Building in New York is hit by lightning roughly 20 to 25 times a year. Across the harbor, the Statue of Liberty — tall, exposed, and built with conductive copper — is another regular target. Anywhere lightning has struck once, it can strike again.
Where You're Most at Risk From Lightning
Now that the myths are out of the way, where are you most likely to be in real danger? Big outdoor crowds during stormy weather top the list. Spectators have been struck at major sporting events, and large outdoor races have been delayed for hours when severe weather threatens.
A study published by the American Meteorological Society analyzed 16,000 events at 477 venues to rank which large gatherings carry the highest exposure to lightning and tornado risk. Outdoor festivals during peak severe-weather season topped the list — including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, which draws hundreds of thousands of people every spring at the height of Gulf Coast storm activity.
Theme parks rank high too, especially in Florida — a state that sees more thunderstorms than almost anywhere else in the country. Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and Busch Gardens in Tampa both made the top 10 for lightning exposure, particularly during Florida's stormy summer afternoons.
Tornado risk tracks closely with lightning, since both come out of the same severe storms — so understanding how supercell thunderstorms form can help you spot the most dangerous weather setups. The AMS study also flagged Coors Field in Denver, Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Globe Life Field in Arlington, and Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati as MLB stadiums with elevated tornado exposure during peak severe-weather season.
Smart Lightning Safety
The simplest rule for lightning is also the most important: when thunder roars, go indoors. Head for a substantial enclosed building or a hard-topped vehicle, stay off plugged-in phones, avoid plumbing, and wait at least 30 minutes after the last rumble before heading back outside. Knowing the difference between a weather watch and a warning can also give your family more time to reach safe shelter when severe storms approach.
Lightning is faster than any forecast, so help your community stay storm-ready. Share this story with friends, family, or your group chat, and keep your forecast in the now with Weather Forecast Now.