Maryland lightning map
Maryland sees humid summer thunderstorms across the Mid-Atlantic, energized by Chesapeake Bay moisture and afternoon heating.
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Detected from NOAA GOES-19 GLM satellite data. Aggregate count for Maryland — your exact location and alerts live in the app.
About lightning in Maryland
Maryland sees humid Mid-Atlantic thunderstorms through the summer, fed by Chesapeake Bay moisture and strong afternoon heating. Storms often fire June through August along cold fronts moving toward the coast, sometimes turning severe. With water and terrain shaping fast local development, the live distance and trend to the nearest strike beat relying on the first roll of thunder.
- Thunderstorm days/yr
- 35
- US rank
- #29 of 50
- Peak season
- June–August
State thunderstorm-day normals are provisional (NOAA/NWS); per-city climate data is shown where a station normal is published.
Cities in Maryland
Lightning safety in Maryland
When storms build across Maryland, 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 Maryland — 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 Maryland get?
Maryland averages about 35 thunderstorm days a year, versus a US average near 25 — roughly 1.4× the national norm. Activity peaks June–August.
Where does Maryland rank for lightning in the US?
By mean annual thunderstorm days, Maryland ranks #29 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 Maryland?
Lightning is most frequent June–August in Maryland.
How does StrikeCast track lightning in Maryland?
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 Maryland in the free app to get a push alert when lightning closes in.