Is lightning near New York City right now?
Storm season in New York City peaks June–August.
Free push alert when lightning approaches New York City. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season near New York City
Lightning near New York City follows New York's pattern of about 28 thunderstorm days a year, roughly 1.1× the national average of 25. Lightning near New York City is most frequent June–August.
- NY thunderstorm days/yr
- 28
- Peak season
- June–August
- vs US average
- 1.1×
- Metro population
- ~8.8M
State-level NOAA climatology; a city-specific thunderstorm-day normal isn’t published for every station.
Where New York City sits
At roughly 105 ft and right on the coast, New York City sees storms fed by warm, moist onshore air, so lightning often arrives ahead of the downpour.
NOAA logged 77 notable lightning events within 50 miles of New York City since 2015 — including 27 injuries and 2 deaths.
- Elevation
- 105 ft
- Distance to coast
- On the coast
- Terrain
- Coastal
Source: Elevation: open-meteo.com · Coastline: Natural Earth · Lightning history: NOAA NCEI Storm Events.
Lightning safety in New York City
In New York City, 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 New York City?
StrikeCast shows the live distance in miles to the nearest strike near New York City, updated continuously from NOAA GOES-GLM satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in New York City 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 New York City?
New York City sees the most lightning June–August, the height of the regional storm season.
Can I get lightning alerts for New York City?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save New York City, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.