Oregon lightning map
Thunderstorms are uncommon in Oregon, occurring mostly over the Cascades and high desert where summer heating can trigger dry lightning.
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Detected from NOAA GOES-19 GLM satellite data. Aggregate count for Oregon — your exact location and alerts live in the app.
About lightning in Oregon
Thunderstorms are uncommon in Oregon, especially west of the Cascades where the marine climate suppresses them. When lightning occurs it usually builds over the mountains and high desert in summer, often as dry storms that spark wildfires across the interior. Activity is most likely June through August. Because these storms are infrequent and frequently dry, the live distance to the nearest strike is especially useful when one does form.
- Thunderstorm days/yr
- 10
- US rank
- #47 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 Oregon
Lightning safety in Oregon
When storms build across Oregon, 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 Oregon — 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 Oregon get?
Oregon averages about 10 thunderstorm days a year, versus a US average near 25 — roughly 0.4× the national norm. Activity peaks June–August.
Where does Oregon rank for lightning in the US?
By mean annual thunderstorm days, Oregon ranks #47 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 Oregon?
Lightning is most frequent June–August in Oregon.
How does StrikeCast track lightning in Oregon?
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 Oregon in the free app to get a push alert when lightning closes in.