Florida lightning map
Florida is the most lightning-prone state in the US — the Gulf and Atlantic sea breezes collide over the peninsula nearly every summer afternoon.
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Detected from NOAA GOES-19 GLM satellite data. Aggregate count for Florida — your exact location and alerts live in the app.
About lightning in Florida
Florida is the lightning capital of the United States. Sea breezes pushing inland from both the Gulf and the Atlantic collide over the peninsula nearly every summer afternoon, igniting the daily storms that earn the Tampa–Orlando corridor the nickname “Lightning Alley.” Activity is most relentless June through September, often firing on a near-daily clock. Because these storms build fast and strike well ahead of the rain, the distance to the nearest flash — and whether it is closing in — is what actually keeps you safe.
- Thunderstorm days/yr
- 80
- US rank
- #1 of 50
- Peak season
- June–September
State thunderstorm-day normals are provisional (NOAA/NWS); per-city climate data is shown where a station normal is published.
Cities in Florida
Lightning safety in Florida
When storms build across Florida, the distance to the nearest strike matters more than a statewide count. Follow 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. If you can hear thunder, you are already close enough to be struck. 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 push alerts for every place that matters across Florida — home, work, the kids' school.
Your exact location stays on your device. Never shared. Never tracked.
Lightning guides
Frequently asked
How many thunderstorm days does Florida get?
Florida averages about 80 thunderstorm days a year, versus a US average near 25 — roughly 3.2× the national norm. Activity peaks June–September.
Where does Florida rank for lightning in the US?
By mean annual thunderstorm days, Florida ranks #1 of 50 states. Rankings use NOAA/NWS climate normals; the live distance and trend on this page come from NOAA GOES-19 satellite data.
When is thunderstorm season in Florida?
Lightning is most frequent June–September in Florida.
How does StrikeCast track lightning in Florida?
StrikeCast reads NOAA GOES-19 GLM (Geostationary Lightning Mapper) satellite data, updated continuously, to show how far away the nearest strike is and whether it is approaching or moving away. Save any place in Florida in the free app to get a push alert when lightning closes in.