Lightning safety and map guides
Find out what to do when you hear thunder, how long to wait before going back out, and what the dots on the map mean. These guides explain Boltwatch's observations and link to official weather-service information.
Open the free lightning mapTry the lightning distance calculator or check lightning near your location.
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.
Start with the source, time and place
A lightning map shows observations that have reached the service. Satellite flashes include lightning inside clouds, and source delays vary. Read the guide that answers your question, then check the map's source and time window for the area you are viewing.
For current coverage and delivery details, read Boltwatch's data sources. To check a specific location, find a country or city map with links to official weather warnings.