Is lightning near Los Angeles right now?
Storm season in Los Angeles peaks July–September.
Free push alert when lightning approaches Los Angeles. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season near Los Angeles
Lightning near Los Angeles follows California's pattern of about 10 thunderstorm days a year, below the national average of 25. Lightning near Los Angeles is most frequent July–September.
- CA thunderstorm days/yr
- 10
- Peak season
- July–September
- vs US average
- 0.4×
- Metro population
- ~3.9M
State-level NOAA climatology; a city-specific thunderstorm-day normal isn’t published for every station.
Where Los Angeles sits
Los Angeles sits at about 299 ft on the coast, where sea-breeze convergence can trigger storms that build fast on summer afternoons — a live nearest-strike distance beats waiting for the rain.
NOAA logged 3 notable lightning events within 50 miles of Los Angeles since 2015 — including 0 injuries1 death.
- Elevation
- 299 ft
- Distance to coast
- ~14 mi
- Terrain
- Coastal
Source: Elevation: open-meteo.com · Coastline: Natural Earth · Lightning history: NOAA NCEI Storm Events.
Lightning safety in Los Angeles
When thunderstorms build over Los Angeles, the distance to the nearest strike matters more than a city-wide count. Use the 30-30 rule: if thunder follows lightning by 30 seconds or less, get indoors, and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before heading back out. StrikeCast surfaces the distance and trend so you can act before the storm reaches you.
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 Los Angeles?
StrikeCast shows the live distance in miles to the nearest strike near Los Angeles, updated continuously from NOAA GOES-GLM satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles?
Los Angeles sees the most lightning July–September, the height of the regional storm season.
Can I get lightning alerts for Los Angeles?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save Los Angeles, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.