Switzerland lightning map
Switzerland's Alps and the Ticino in the south are among Europe's most lightning-active areas, with frequent summer afternoon storms.
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Detected from EUMETSAT MTG-LI satellite data. Aggregate count for Switzerland — your exact location and alerts live in the app.
About lightning in Switzerland
Switzerland's mountains make summer thunderstorms a near-daily possibility. From May to August, heating over the Alps and the Jura builds storms that fire across the country, sharpest in the southern canton of Ticino around Lugano — one of the most lightning-struck corners of Europe — and over the high terrain near Zurich, Bern and Geneva. Because Alpine storms build and strike fast, often from just beyond a ridge, the live distance to the nearest flash and its trend are the safer guide than waiting for thunder.
- Peak season
- May–August
- Region
- Europe
Cities in Switzerland
Lightning safety in Switzerland
When storms build across Switzerland, the distance to the nearest strike matters more than a country-wide 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. StrikeCast surfaces the live distance and trend so you can act before the storm reaches you.
StrikeCast app
Distance & alerts — in your pocket.
Distance to the nearest strike, a storm card on your iPhone Lock Screen (iOS 18+), and a free alert for one place you save anywhere in Switzerland.
Your exact location stays on your device. Never shared. Never tracked.
Get the iPhone app
Point your phone camera at the code. It opens StrikeCast on the App Store.
Free · iPhone and iPad
Frequently asked
How does StrikeCast track lightning in Switzerland?
StrikeCast reads EUMETSAT MTG-LI satellite data, updated continuously, to show how far away the nearest strike is and whether it is approaching or moving away. Save any city in Switzerland in the free app to get a push alert when lightning closes in.
When is thunderstorm season in Switzerland?
Lightning is most frequent May–August in Switzerland.
Is it safe to be outside during a thunderstorm in Switzerland?
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 live distance and trend help you decide before the storm arrives.