Can you swim when it's thundering?

Why Swimming Outdoors During Thunderstorms Is Dangerous

Lightning and Water: A Lethal Combination

Lightning is a powerful force of nature, which carries up to a billion volts of electricity in a single strike. And water conducts electricity. When lightning strikes water, be it a lake, ocean, or even a backyard pool, the electricity radiates across the surface, putting anyone in the water at risk of serious injury or death.

Even chlorinated pools with modern filtration systems are not immune. The water surface conducts the electrical charge, and metal railings, diving boards, and other pool equipment can extend that risk to anyone nearby.

Florida’s Risk Is Higher Than Most

Florida ranks first in the U.S. for lightning strikes and lightning bolt related deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that if you hear thunder, you're within striking distance of lightning. About 10% of people struck by lightning die, and many survivors face long-term health issues.

Whether it’s a backyard pool, resort pool, or even a community outdoor facility, it is never safe to swim outside during a thunderstorm.

The Safer Alternative: Indoor Pools Like Ocaquatics

Why Indoor Pools Are the Right Choice

Not all pools are created equal when it comes to pool safety. Indoor pools, especially those built to high construction and safety standards, provide swimmers with a safe environment to continue their lessons even when the weather outside turns stormy.

Ocaquatics Swim School, for example, operates five indoor, warm-water swim schools in Miami that remain open during most storms. These facilities are designed specifically for children's safety, with grounded electrical systems, non-slip flooring, and fully enclosed pool areas that shield swimmers from the elements.

Proper Grounding and Safety Systems

Indoor pools like those at Ocaquatics are constructed in accordance with National Electrical Code (NEC) standards, ensuring that electrical systems are properly grounded and isolated from outdoor structures. This significantly reduces the risk of electrical current entering the pool or a direct strike during a lightning storm.

Ocaquatics Swim School: Safety and Fun, Rain or Shine

Since 1994, Ocaquatics Swim School has helped thousands of Miami families teach their children to become safer, more confident swimmers. One of the reasons Ocaquatics is a trusted name in swim instruction is their commitment to safety—even when the weather forecast is unpredictable or stormy.

What Ocaquatics Does Differently

• Fully Indoor, Warm Water Pools: Every location is completely enclosed, temperature-controlled, and equipped with child-friendly features designed to ensure safety and comfort in any weather.
• No Outdoor Exposure: There are no open-roof designs, partial enclosures, or outdoor plumbing elements in the surrounding ground that might introduce lightning risk in bad weather.
• Highly Trained Staff: Instructors and staff are trained to monitor weather conditions and follow strict safety protocols, including evacuations if needed for rare indoor hazards.
• Education-Focused Approach: Families are taught about water safety, and children learn how to respect water and environmental risks from their very first lesson.



What to Do During Storms If You’re Swimming Outside

If you're not swimming at a facility like Ocaquatics and find yourself in an outdoor pool during a storm, follow these steps:

Evacuate the Water Immediately

• Exit the pool at the first sound of thunder or flash of lightning.
• Don’t delay as even a few seconds can make the difference.
• Avoid pool ladders, diving boards, or any metal objects nearby.

Seek Shelter in a Safe Location

• Find a fully enclosed building with plumbing and electrical wiring (not an open gazebo or beach hut).
• Alternatively, a hard-top metal vehicle with closed windows can provide protection.
• Avoid tall structures, trees, and wet concrete surfaces near the water.

Follow the 30/30 Rule

• If you hear thunder within 30 seconds of seeing lightning, you're too close.
• Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunderclap before returning to the pool.

Indoor Alternatives for Unsafe Weather

Just because you can’t swim outside doesn’t mean swimming progress has to stop. Indoor options and creative at-home activities can keep swimmers engaged.

Swim at an Indoor Facility Like Ocaquatics

Safer, more comfortable, and always warm—indoor swimming at Ocaquatics offers uninterrupted learning, even when Miami’s skies are filled with thunderclouds.

Ocaquatics’ five locations offer year-round lessons for:

• Babies (6 months+)
• Toddlers
• Preschoolers and school-aged children
• Junior swim team members

Practice Dryland Swim Drills

If you’re stuck at home, the next best course is:

• Use resistance bands to practice arm strokes.
• Try flutter kicks while lying flat on a mat.
• Perform core exercises like planks to build swim endurance.
• Watch and analyze videos of professional swimmers to reinforce good form.

The Role of Swim Schools in Lightning Safety Education

Leading by Example

Swim schools have a responsibility to do more than teach strokes. They must educate students and families about the broader context of water safety. That includes understanding weather patterns, lightning risk, and emergency response.

Ocaquatics’ Commitment to Safety

Ocaquatics Swim School has earned its stellar reputation in Miami not just through swim instruction, but by building a culture of safety:

• Staff Training: Employees are educated in emergency protocol and first aid.
• Facility Design: Indoor pools minimize exposure to lightning-related hazards.

As one of Miami’s most respected swim schools, Ocaquatics ensures that your child’s lessons are not just about strokes and kicks, but about confidence, awareness, and life-saving skills.

So, Can You Swim When It’s Thundering?

The Short Answer

• Outdoor pools? Absolutely not. Thunder means there is lightning present nearby, and any body of water becomes a high-risk environment.
• Indoor pools? Yes, when properly built and maintained, like those at Ocaquatics Swim School.

Instead of canceling swim lessons or taking risks outdoors, families can choose safer indoor facilities that prioritize child development and weather safety, rain or shine.

Make the Safer Choice With Ocaquatics Swim School

At Ocaquatics Swim School, your child’s safety is our top priority, and that means we’re here for you rain or shine. Our indoor, warm-water pools allow for year-round lessons in a fully enclosed environment. With more than 3,000 five-star reviews and over 25 years of experience, Ocaquatics has become Miami’s most trusted name in swim education.

Whether you're looking to build water confidence, develop stroke skills, or simply help your child fall in love with swimming, our caring, professional team is ready to help every step of the way. As a locally rooted and community-driven school, we’re passionate about helping families thrive in, on, and around the water. 



Reach out to us today and discover why families trust Ocaquatics for safe, fun swimming lessons. To enroll, call or text us at 305-969-7946 or contact us online.