DON’T shower or do dishes during a thunderstorm: Here's what US authorities advise and no, it's NOT a superstitious concern!

It is estimated that there are as many as 40,000 thunderstorm occurrences each day across the world. That means, on the whole, wide planet Earth that we call home, there are close to 14.6 million occurrences annually!

The United States has its share of thunderstorm occurrences. And guess which part of the US sees more of the lightning thunder amidst the downpour? The most frequent occurrence is in the southeastern states, with Florida having the highest number of 'thunder' days (80 to 105+ days per year). Most thunderstorm-related deaths occur amongst those who work outside, especially in the Southeast, and are at the highest risk. Florida and Texas have the largest number of lightning-related deaths - about 180 people per year are injured by lightning, and 10 per cent of people struck by lightning die each year.

According to the US National Weather Service, it is in this part of the country that warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean is just the blend that triggers thunderstorm development.

That is why the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that since lightning can travel through plumbing, “it is best to avoid all water during a thunderstorm. Do not shower, bathe, wash dishes, or wash your hands,” reports CNN.com.

“The risk of lightning travelling through plumbing might be less with plastic pipes than with metal pipes. However, it is best to avoid any contact with plumbing and running water during a lightning storm to reduce your risk of being struck,” the CDC added.

That’s not the only danger when you’re inside. Stay off porches and balconies, don’t go near windows and doors, and do “NOT lie down on concrete floors or lean against concrete walls,” the agency said.

Also, do “NOT use anything connected to an electrical outlet, such as computers or other electronic equipment,” the CDC said. “Stay off corded phones. Cell phones and cordless phones are safe … if they are not connected to an outlet through a charger.”

Well, quite a lot of damage. Remember, the heat energy that a single lightning strike carries is PHENOMENAL. In fact, when a thunderclap happens when lightning strikes, the air around the bolt gets heated so severely that the temperature of the ambient air is as high “as 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun,” the National Weather Service said. “Immediately after the flash, the air cools and contracts quickly. This rapid expansion and contraction (create) the sound wave that we hear as thunder.”

Yes, by using the FLASH-TO-BANG method. So as to find a safe place, it may help to know if the thunderbolts are striking any place closer to where you are. Every 5 seconds between the flash and the rumble equates to about a mile of distance between you and the lightning. “Count the number of seconds between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder, and then divide by 5,” with five seconds equaling 1 mile, 15 seconds equaling 3 miles, and zero seconds very close, the US National Weather Service said.

According to the US CDC - you are safer indoors, but not if you flout the safety protocol.

1. Avoid water: Especially flowing water - more so in metal pipes! Avoid any contact with plumbing and running water when it is raining thunderbolts outside. Do NOT bathe, shower, wash dishes, or have any other contact with water during a thunderstorm because lightning can travel through a building’s plumbing.

2. Don’t touch electronic equipment: Stay away from anything that needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet, such as computers, laptops, game systems, washers, dryers, or stoves. Lightning can travel through electrical systems, radio and television reception systems, and any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring.

3. Have stabilisers and anti-surge devices deployed: Equip your home with whole-house surge protectors to protect your appliances. Don’t use corded phones.

4. Spend on the installation of lightning rod: If you stay in a high-rise, check if your building has an earthed lightning rod at the top. If you stay in a separate habitat - consider the same, but the costs could deter you. However, installing a lightning rod is a very low-cost way of protecting people and property from the dangers of lightning. If lightning does strike, though, a lightning rod can work to conduct lightning down the rod so that it can disperse below. While they won't completely protect you from direct strikes, it will greatly reduce your chance of being struck by lightning as well as limit potential damage. But they must be installed by a professional and in a correct manner with proper grounding.

5. No selfies, no longer calls near doors, windows, or balconies: Give up the temptation to use your cell phone during a thunderstorm. Avoid windows, doors, porches, and concrete. Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.

6. Use insulation slippers or shoes: Do NOT lie on concrete floors or lean on concrete walls during a thunderstorm: According to CDC, lightning can travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring.