Is lightning near Fort Collins right now?
~30 minearest strike to Fort Collins↘ Moving away
10 strikes within 100 mi in the last hour.
Free push alert when lightning approaches Fort Collins. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season near Fort Collins
Lightning near Fort Collins follows Colorado's pattern of about 45 thunderstorm days a year, roughly 1.8× the national average of 25. Lightning near Fort Collins is most frequent May–August.
- CO thunderstorm days/yr
- 45
- Peak season
- May–August
- vs US average
- 1.8×
- Metro population
- ~169.8K
State-level NOAA climatology; a city-specific thunderstorm-day normal isn’t published for every station.
Where Fort Collins sits
Fort Collins sits high, near 5,013 ft, about 787 mi from the coast. At altitude, daytime heating drives afternoon storms that can form directly overhead with little warning.
NOAA logged 7 notable lightning events within 50 miles of Fort Collins since 2015 — including 4 injuries and 2 deaths.
- Elevation
- 5,013 ft
- Distance to coast
- ~787 mi
- Terrain
- High elevation
Source: Elevation: open-meteo.com · Coastline: Natural Earth · Lightning history: NOAA NCEI Storm Events.
Lightning safety in Fort Collins
When thunderstorms build over Fort Collins, 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 Fort Collins?
StrikeCast shows the live distance in miles to the nearest strike near Fort Collins, updated continuously from NOAA GOES-GLM satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins?
Fort Collins sees the most lightning May–August, the height of the regional storm season.
Can I get lightning alerts for Fort Collins?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save Fort Collins, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.