Louisiana lightning map
Warm, humid Gulf air makes Louisiana one of the most thunderstorm-active states in the country through the long summer.
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Detected from NOAA GOES-19 GLM satellite data. Aggregate count for Louisiana — your exact location and alerts live in the app.
About lightning in Louisiana
Louisiana sits under a constant feed of warm, saturated Gulf air, making it one of the most thunderstorm-prone states in the country. Daily summer heating sparks afternoon storms across the bayous and coast, and tropical systems add to the count from May through September. Lightning here often strikes from storms that seem to appear out of a clear, humid sky. Knowing how close the nearest flash is — and whether it is approaching — beats waiting to hear thunder.
- Thunderstorm days/yr
- 73
- US rank
- #2 of 50
- Peak season
- May–September
State thunderstorm-day normals are provisional (NOAA/NWS); per-city climate data is shown where a station normal is published.
Cities in Louisiana
Lightning safety in Louisiana
When storms build across Louisiana, 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 Louisiana — 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 Louisiana get?
Louisiana averages about 73 thunderstorm days a year, versus a US average near 25 — roughly 2.9× the national norm. Activity peaks May–September.
Where does Louisiana rank for lightning in the US?
By mean annual thunderstorm days, Louisiana ranks #2 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 Louisiana?
Lightning is most frequent May–September in Louisiana.
How does StrikeCast track lightning in Louisiana?
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 Louisiana in the free app to get a push alert when lightning closes in.