Is lightning near Des Moines right now?
Storm season in Des Moines peaks April–September.
Free push alert when lightning approaches Des Moines. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season near Des Moines
Lightning near Des Moines follows Iowa's pattern of about 45 thunderstorm days a year, roughly 1.8× the national average of 25. Lightning near Des Moines is most frequent April–September.
- IA thunderstorm days/yr
- 45
- Peak season
- April–September
- vs US average
- 1.8×
- Metro population
- ~214.1K
State-level NOAA climatology; a city-specific thunderstorm-day normal isn’t published for every station.
Where Des Moines sits
Des Moines sits inland at about 820 ft, roughly 797 mi from the coast, where storms tend to travel with the larger weather systems rather than pop up locally.
NOAA logged 33 notable lightning events within 50 miles of Des Moines since 2015 — including 5 injuries.
- Elevation
- 820 ft
- Distance to coast
- ~797 mi
- Terrain
- Inland lowland
Source: Elevation: open-meteo.com · Coastline: Natural Earth · Lightning history: NOAA NCEI Storm Events.
Lightning safety in Des Moines
When thunderstorms build over Des Moines, 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 Des Moines?
StrikeCast shows the live distance in miles to the nearest strike near Des Moines, updated continuously from NOAA GOES-GLM satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in Des Moines 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 Des Moines?
Des Moines sees the most lightning April–September, the height of the regional storm season.
Can I get lightning alerts for Des Moines?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save Des Moines, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.