Is lightning near Buffalo right now?
Storm season in Buffalo peaks June–August.
Free push alert when lightning approaches Buffalo. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season near Buffalo
Buffalo sits in New York, which averages about 28 thunderstorm days a year — roughly 1.1× the national average of 25. Lightning near Buffalo is most frequent June–August.
- NY thunderstorm days/yr
- 28
- Peak season
- June–August
- vs US average
- 1.1×
- Metro population
- ~278.3K
State-level NOAA climatology; a city-specific thunderstorm-day normal isn’t published for every station.
Where Buffalo sits
Buffalo sits inland at about 591 ft, roughly 253 mi from the coast, where storms tend to travel with the larger weather systems rather than pop up locally.
NOAA logged 9 notable lightning events within 50 miles of Buffalo since 2015 — including 0 injuries2 deaths.
- Elevation
- 591 ft
- Distance to coast
- ~253 mi
- Terrain
- Inland lowland
Source: Elevation: open-meteo.com · Coastline: Natural Earth · Lightning history: NOAA NCEI Storm Events.
Lightning safety in Buffalo
In Buffalo, 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 Buffalo?
StrikeCast shows the live distance in miles to the nearest strike near Buffalo, updated continuously from NOAA GOES-GLM satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in Buffalo 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 Buffalo?
Buffalo sees the most lightning June–August, the height of the regional storm season.
Can I get lightning alerts for Buffalo?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save Buffalo, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.