Is lightning near Cartagena right now?
~77 kmnearest strike to Cartagena↗ Approaching
171 strikes within 161 km in the last hour.
Free push alert when lightning approaches Cartagena. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season near Cartagena
Cartagena sits in Colombia, where lightning is most frequent August–November. Colombia's position on the equator gives it lightning in two rainy peaks — roughly March to May and September to November — though storms can fire any month. The humid Magdalena valley, the Pacific Chocó and the Andean slopes around Bogotá, Medellín and Cali see frequent, intense afternoon and overnight thunderstorms. Some of the highest flash densities ever recorded sit over Colombian terrain. Because these storms strike hard and often ahead of the rain, the live nearest-strike distance beats waiting for thunder.
Where Cartagena sits
At roughly 13 m and right on the coast, Cartagena sees storms fed by warm, moist onshore air, so lightning often arrives ahead of the downpour.
- Elevation
- 13 m
- Distance to coast
- On the coast
- Terrain
- Coastal
Source: Elevation: open-meteo.com · Coastline: Natural Earth.
Lightning safety in Cartagena
When thunderstorms build over Cartagena, 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 live 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 Cartagena?
StrikeCast shows the live distance to the nearest strike near Cartagena, updated continuously from NOAA GOES-GLM satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in Cartagena 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 Cartagena?
Cartagena sees the most lightning August–November, the height of Colombia's storm season.
Can I get lightning alerts for Cartagena?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save Cartagena, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.
Nearby lightning maps
Data: NOAA GOES GLM.