Is lightning near Orlando right now?
~72 minearest strike to Orlando
1 strike within 100 mi in the last hour.
Free push alert when lightning approaches Orlando. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season in Orlando
Thunderstorms are a regular feature of the Orlando sky: about 82 days a year, roughly 3.3× the national average of 25. Among the cities StrikeCast tracks, Orlando is the 4th-most active in its state. That's more lightning than nearby Jacksonville (68 days) but less than Tampa (83). Activity peaks June–September, when Florida's warm-season storms fire most often.
- Thunderstorm days/yr
- 82
- Peak season
- June–September
- vs US average
- 3.3×
- Rank in FL
- 4th
- Metro population
- ~307.6K
Source: NOAA / WMO climate normals — mean annual days with thunderstorms (1961–2010). City rank reflects the US cities StrikeCast tracks.
Where Orlando sits
Orlando sits on low coastal-plain terrain near 115 ft, about 34 mi from open water, so humid air keeps the warm season active with lightning.
NOAA logged 37 notable lightning events within 50 miles of Orlando since 2015 — including 27 injuries and 11 deaths.
- Elevation
- 115 ft
- Distance to coast
- ~34 mi
- Terrain
- Near-coastal plain
Source: Elevation: open-meteo.com · Coastline: Natural Earth · Lightning history: NOAA NCEI Storm Events.
Lightning safety in Orlando
In Orlando, lightning can strike well ahead of the rain, so a live distance beats waiting for the downpour. Follow the 30-30 rule: shelter when thunder arrives within 30 seconds of a flash, and stay put for 30 minutes after the last rumble. StrikeCast’s nearest-strike distance and approaching or moving-away trend tell you which way the storm is heading.
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 Orlando?
StrikeCast shows the live distance in miles to the nearest strike near Orlando, updated continuously from NOAA GOES-GLM satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in Orlando 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 Orlando?
Orlando sees the most lightning June–September, averaging about 82 thunderstorm days a year.
Where does Orlando rank for lightning?
Among the US cities StrikeCast tracks, Orlando is the 4th-most lightning-active in FL, at about 82 thunderstorm days a year.
Can I get lightning alerts for Orlando?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save Orlando, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.