Live lightning map
See where lightning has been detected on a map that updates as new reports arrive. NOAA's GOES satellites cover the Americas and surrounding oceans. EUMETSAT's Meteosat satellites cover Europe and Africa, with ground-sensor reports from FMI across the Nordics and Baltics. Tap “Near me” to see the distance and direction to nearby lightning, and whether recent flashes are closer.
GOES reports usually arrive about a minute after detection. Meteosat reports cover ten minutes at a time and take longer to arrive. Satellite dots include lightning inside clouds, so they don't show exactly where lightning hit the ground. An empty map doesn't mean it's safe outside.
Understand the lightning you see
How to Read a Lightning Map: Colours, Time and Distance
Read lightning map colours, time windows and nearby distances. Learn what a flash means, how source delays affect the map and what to check next.
Satellite Lightning vs Ground Strikes: What a Dot Means
A satellite lightning flash is not a confirmed ground strike. Compare GOES, Meteosat and ground-network reports, location limits and flash counts.
Lightning Map vs Weather Radar: How to Use Both
Lightning maps show reported flashes; weather radar shows precipitation. Compare what each reveals, check their timestamps and use official warnings.
Thunder but No Lightning on the Map? What to Check
Hearing thunder with an empty lightning map can mean delayed reports, source filters or coverage gaps. Check the map from indoors and follow weather advice.
Caught Outside in a Thunderstorm? What to Do Now
What to do if you hear thunder outdoors: where to go, what to avoid and why trees, tents and crouching don't protect you. Based on weather-service advice.
Lightning Safety at Home: Showers, Phones and Plugs
Can you shower, use your phone or charge a laptop in a thunderstorm? What's safe indoors, what to avoid, and how to protect pets and electronics.
Is a Car Safe in a Lightning Storm? What Protects You
A hard-topped car with the windows closed protects you from lightning, but not because of the rubber tyres. What to do while driving and which vehicles aren't safe.
How Long to Wait After Thunder Before Going Outside
Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back outside. Why the rule exists, why each rumble resets the clock, and how to apply it to sport, pools and events.
What Is Heat Lightning? Silent Flashes Explained
Heat lightning is ordinary lightning from a storm too far away to hear. Why there's no thunder, how far away it might be and how to find the storm on a map.
Run a lightning receiver? Join the station pilot and help develop an independent network with open tools and useful diagnostics.
Lightning maps by place
Browse every country, state and city map
Frequently asked questions
- Is there lightning near your area right now?
- The map shows reported lightning flashes during your selected time window and updates as new reports arrive. Colours show how long ago each flash happened. Tap “Near me” to see the distance and direction to nearby lightning. Coverage and delays vary, and an empty map doesn't mean it's safe outside.
- How far away can lightning strike?
- Lightning can strike 10 miles (16 km) or more from the storm that produces it, often out of a clear sky. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck. Go indoors and wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back outside.
- Where does the lightning data come from?
- NOAA's GOES-East and GOES-West Geostationary Lightning Mappers cover the Americas and adjacent oceans. EUMETSAT's Meteosat Lightning Imager covers Europe, Africa and much of the Atlantic. These satellites observe flashes in clouds and towards the ground, but do not label each detection as a ground impact. The Finnish Meteorological Institute supplies ground-network observations across the Nordics and Baltics, including peak current where available.
- How live is the map?
- GOES reports usually arrive about a minute after detection. Meteosat reports cover ten minutes at a time and take longer to arrive. Sources can have different delays, and the map's delay label doesn't cover every source. A source outage may leave gaps in the map.
- How accurate are the strike locations?
- GOES GLM pixels are roughly 8 km across near the centre of the view and 14 km near its edge. Pixel size is not a guarantee of ground-strike accuracy. Meteosat also observes illuminated cloud tops. Use satellite flashes to follow storm activity, not to identify which street or building was hit. FMI ground-network observations provide a different kind of location estimate; each source has its own limitations.
- Is BoltWatch free?
- Yes. There's no sign-up and no app to install. Open the page and the map runs.