Is lightning near Boulder right now?
~19 minearest strike to Boulder↘ Moving away
10 strikes within 100 mi in the last hour.
Free push alert when lightning approaches Boulder. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season near Boulder
Boulder sits in Colorado, which averages about 45 thunderstorm days a year — roughly 1.8× the national average of 25. Lightning near Boulder is most frequent May–August.
- CO thunderstorm days/yr
- 45
- Peak season
- May–August
- vs US average
- 1.8×
- Metro population
- ~108.3K
State-level NOAA climatology; a city-specific thunderstorm-day normal isn’t published for every station.
Where Boulder sits
Boulder sits high, near 5,331 ft, about 750 mi from the coast. At altitude, daytime heating drives afternoon storms that can form directly overhead with little warning.
NOAA logged 13 notable lightning events within 50 miles of Boulder since 2015 — including 19 injuries and 3 deaths.
- Elevation
- 5,331 ft
- Distance to coast
- ~750 mi
- Terrain
- High elevation
Source: Elevation: open-meteo.com · Coastline: Natural Earth · Lightning history: NOAA NCEI Storm Events.
Lightning safety in Boulder
When thunderstorms build over Boulder, 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 Boulder?
StrikeCast shows the live distance in miles to the nearest strike near Boulder, updated continuously from NOAA GOES-GLM satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in Boulder 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 Boulder?
Boulder sees the most lightning May–August, the height of the regional storm season.
Can I get lightning alerts for Boulder?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save Boulder, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.