Is lightning near Paterson right now?
Storm season in Paterson peaks June–August.
Free push alert when lightning approaches Paterson. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season near Paterson
Lightning near Paterson follows New Jersey's pattern of about 30 thunderstorm days a year, roughly 1.2× the national average of 25. Lightning near Paterson is most frequent June–August.
- NJ thunderstorm days/yr
- 30
- Peak season
- June–August
- vs US average
- 1.2×
- Metro population
- ~159.7K
State-level NOAA climatology; a city-specific thunderstorm-day normal isn’t published for every station.
Where Paterson sits
At roughly 92 ft and right on the coast, Paterson sees storms fed by warm, moist onshore air, so lightning often arrives ahead of the downpour.
NOAA logged 81 notable lightning events within 50 miles of Paterson since 2015 — including 26 injuries and 2 deaths.
- Elevation
- 92 ft
- Distance to coast
- ~12 mi
- Terrain
- Coastal
Source: Elevation: open-meteo.com · Coastline: Natural Earth · Lightning history: NOAA NCEI Storm Events.
Lightning safety in Paterson
When thunderstorms build over Paterson, 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 Paterson?
StrikeCast shows the live distance in miles to the nearest strike near Paterson, updated continuously from NOAA GOES-GLM satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in Paterson 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 Paterson?
Paterson sees the most lightning June–August, the height of the regional storm season.
Can I get lightning alerts for Paterson?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save Paterson, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.