Is lightning near Wilkes-Barre right now?
Storm season in Wilkes-Barre peaks June–August.
Free push alert when lightning approaches Wilkes-Barre. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season near Wilkes-Barre
Lightning near Wilkes-Barre follows Pennsylvania's pattern of about 35 thunderstorm days a year, roughly 1.4× the national average of 25. Lightning near Wilkes-Barre is most frequent June–August.
- PA thunderstorm days/yr
- 35
- Peak season
- June–August
- vs US average
- 1.4×
- Metro population
- ~43.1K
State-level NOAA climatology; a city-specific thunderstorm-day normal isn’t published for every station.
Where Wilkes-Barre sits
About 96 mi from the coast at roughly 568 ft, Wilkes-Barre sees moisture-fed storms through the warm months.
NOAA logged 32 notable lightning events within 50 miles of Wilkes-Barre since 2015 — including 4 injuries and 2 deaths.
- Elevation
- 568 ft
- Distance to coast
- ~96 mi
- Terrain
- Near-coastal plain
Source: Elevation: open-meteo.com · Coastline: Natural Earth · Lightning history: NOAA NCEI Storm Events.
Lightning safety in Wilkes-Barre
In Wilkes-Barre, 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 Wilkes-Barre?
StrikeCast shows the live distance in miles to the nearest strike near Wilkes-Barre, updated continuously from NOAA GOES-GLM satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre?
Wilkes-Barre sees the most lightning June–August, the height of the regional storm season.
Can I get lightning alerts for Wilkes-Barre?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save Wilkes-Barre, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.