Exhausted woman skipped her shower during a thunderstorm — that small decision ended up saving her life

Most of us run on autopilot mode after a long day. Shoes off. Bag down. Shower on. Some rituals are so ingrained deep inside that skipping them doesn’t feel right. But for one Florida woman, skipping that one thing may have been the decision that saved her life. And now, it is making people rethink what they do during a thunderstorm. AccuWeather shared a video on TikTok showing severe damage inside a Cape Coral home after it was struck by lightning. The footage, filmed by an insurance adjuster, focused on a bathroom that looked like the aftermath of an explosion. 

What made the video more disturbing wasn’t just the destruction; it was how closely the woman escaped the life-threatening incident. It feels like a miracle, doesn’t it? According to the adjuster, the woman had just returned home from work on a day marked by heavy thunderstorms. Normally, she would head straight to the shower. This time, she didn’t. “She always takes a shower when she gets home from work, but today she decided not to,” the adjuster said. That change in routine meant she wasn’t in the bathroom when lightning struck her home. 

A burn mark on the fence outside the home showed where the lightning hit, per Accuweather. From there, the electrical surge traveled inward, moving through the structure and into the bathroom wall. The force caused the shower to explode. In one place, the blast was strong enough to make a hole in the wall. The homeowner escaped without injury, but experts say the outcome could have put her life at risk. John Jensenius of the National Lightning Safety Council explained that when lightning strikes a home, it often follows wiring or plumbing, per Accuweather. “If lightning strikes your home,” Jensenius said, “it typically follows either the wires or the plumbing.” That means showering, doing dishes or even using tap water can put someone’s life at risk.

Both Jensenius and the CDC warn against using any plumbing during storms, noting that even non-metal pipes can conduct electricity through the water itself. While exploding showers are rare, the incident underscores a broader risk. According to the National Weather Service, lightning kills about 20 people each year in the United States and injures hundreds more. Online, viewers responded with a mix of relief, faith and familiar warnings. @natalya.celeste commented, “That was Jesus!!! He stopped her!!! Praise God!!!” Others echoed advice passed down through generations. “Grandma always said don’t be showering or bathing during a thunderstorm,” wrote @isaiah_5.20. @redwhiteandboooo summed it up, “Showering during a lightning storm is never a good idea.”

The video has now reached millions, not just due to this event but because it highlights how unexpected life is. One tired woman chose rest over routine and that choice became a life-saver for her.

More on Amplify

Meteorologist answers if showering during a thunderstorm can be life-threatening

Mom was tired of telling her kids to shower every day—came up with an epic flowchart to rest it for once and all 

Weatherman abruptly stops live hurricane report to heroically save woman trapped in flooded car