Is lightning near Riyadh right now?
No lightning near Riyadh right now.
Free push alert when lightning approaches Riyadh. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season near Riyadh
Riyadh sits in Saudi Arabia, where lightning is most frequent March–May, October–November. Spring and autumn bring dust-and-thunder storms across the Saudi interior, with the strongest activity over the western highlands.
Where Riyadh sits
Riyadh sits inland at about 634 m, roughly 362 km from the coast, where storms tend to travel with the larger weather systems rather than pop up locally.
- Elevation
- 634 m
- Distance to coast
- ~362 km
- Terrain
- Inland lowland
Source: Elevation: open-meteo.com · Coastline: Natural Earth.
Lightning safety in Riyadh
When thunderstorms build over Riyadh, 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 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 a push alert before the storm reaches you — no need to keep the app open.
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Frequently asked
How far away is the nearest lightning to Riyadh?
StrikeCast shows the live distance to the nearest strike near Riyadh, updated continuously from EUMETSAT MTG-LI satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in Riyadh 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 Riyadh?
Riyadh sees the most lightning March–May, October–November, the height of Saudi Arabia's storm season.
Can I get lightning alerts for Riyadh?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save Riyadh, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.
Nearby lightning maps
Data: EUMETSAT MTG-LI.