Is lightning near Minneapolis right now?
Storm season in Minneapolis peaks May–August.
Free push alert when lightning approaches Minneapolis. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season near Minneapolis
Minneapolis sits in Minnesota, which averages about 40 thunderstorm days a year — roughly 1.6× the national average of 25. Lightning near Minneapolis is most frequent May–August.
- MN thunderstorm days/yr
- 40
- Peak season
- May–August
- vs US average
- 1.6×
- Metro population
- ~430K
State-level NOAA climatology; a city-specific thunderstorm-day normal isn’t published for every station.
Where Minneapolis sits
Minneapolis sits inland at about 830 ft, roughly 703 mi from the coast, where storms tend to travel with the larger weather systems rather than pop up locally.
NOAA logged 16 notable lightning events within 50 miles of Minneapolis since 2015 — including 6 injuries.
- Elevation
- 830 ft
- Distance to coast
- ~703 mi
- Terrain
- Inland lowland
Source: Elevation: open-meteo.com · Coastline: Natural Earth · Lightning history: NOAA NCEI Storm Events.
Lightning safety in Minneapolis
In Minneapolis, 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 Minneapolis?
StrikeCast shows the live distance in miles to the nearest strike near Minneapolis, updated continuously from NOAA GOES-GLM satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis?
Minneapolis sees the most lightning May–August, the height of the regional storm season.
Can I get lightning alerts for Minneapolis?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save Minneapolis, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.