Is lightning near Mobile right now?
~20 minearest strike to Mobile↘ Moving away
2.1K strikes within 100 mi in the last hour.
Free push alert when lightning approaches Mobile. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season in Mobile
Mobile, AL averages about 79 thunderstorm days a year — roughly 3.2× the national average of 25. Among the cities StrikeCast tracks, Mobile is the most lightning-active in its state. That's more than nearby Birmingham (58.8). The busiest stretch runs May–September, at the height of Alabama's storm season.
- Thunderstorm days/yr
- 79
- Peak season
- May–September
- vs US average
- 3.2×
- Rank in AL
- 1st
- Metro population
- ~187K
Source: NOAA / WMO climate normals — mean annual days with thunderstorms (1961–2010). City rank reflects the US cities StrikeCast tracks.
Where Mobile sits
At roughly 10 ft and right on the coast, Mobile sees storms fed by warm, moist onshore air, so lightning often arrives ahead of the downpour.
NOAA logged 16 notable lightning events within 50 miles of Mobile since 2015 — including 14 injuries and 5 deaths.
- Elevation
- 10 ft
- Distance to coast
- On the coast
- Terrain
- Coastal
Source: Elevation: open-meteo.com · Coastline: Natural Earth · Lightning history: NOAA NCEI Storm Events.
Lightning safety in Mobile
In Mobile, lightning can strike well ahead of the rain, so a live distance beats waiting for the downpour. Follow the 30-30 rule: shelter when thunder arrives within 30 seconds of a flash, and stay put for 30 minutes after the last rumble. StrikeCast’s nearest-strike distance and approaching or moving-away trend tell you which way the storm is heading.
StrikeCast app
Distance, trend & alerts — in your pocket.
GPS-precise distance to the nearest strike, live approaching/moving-away trend, and a push alert before the storm reaches you — no need to keep the app open.
Your exact location stays on your device. Never shared. Never tracked.
Frequently asked
How far away is the nearest lightning to Mobile?
StrikeCast shows the live distance in miles to the nearest strike near Mobile, updated continuously from NOAA GOES-GLM satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in Mobile right now?
If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck. Follow the 30-30 rule: shelter when thunder follows lightning by 30 seconds or less, and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder. StrikeCast's distance and trend help you decide before the storm arrives.
When is thunderstorm season in Mobile?
Mobile sees the most lightning May–September, averaging about 79 thunderstorm days a year.
Where does Mobile rank for lightning?
Among the US cities StrikeCast tracks, Mobile is the 1st-most lightning-active in AL, at about 79 thunderstorm days a year.
Can I get lightning alerts for Mobile?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save Mobile, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.