Is lightning near San Francisco right now?
Storm season in San Francisco peaks July–September.
Free push alert when lightning approaches San Francisco. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season near San Francisco
San Francisco sits in California, which averages about 10 thunderstorm days a year — below the national average of 25. Lightning near San Francisco is most frequent July–September.
- CA thunderstorm days/yr
- 10
- Peak season
- July–September
- vs US average
- 0.4×
- Metro population
- ~874K
State-level NOAA climatology; a city-specific thunderstorm-day normal isn’t published for every station.
Where San Francisco sits
At roughly 59 ft and right on the coast, San Francisco sees storms fed by warm, moist onshore air, so lightning often arrives ahead of the downpour.
NOAA logged 18 notable lightning events within 50 miles of San Francisco since 2015.
- Elevation
- 59 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 San Francisco
When thunderstorms build over San Francisco, 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 San Francisco?
StrikeCast shows the live distance in miles to the nearest strike near San Francisco, updated continuously from NOAA GOES-GLM satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in San Francisco 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 San Francisco?
San Francisco sees the most lightning July–September, the height of the regional storm season.
Can I get lightning alerts for San Francisco?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save San Francisco, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.