Is lightning near Zurich right now?
No lightning near Zurich right now.
Free push alert when lightning approaches Zurich. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season near Zurich
Zurich sits in Switzerland, where lightning is most frequent May–August. 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.
Where Zurich sits
Zurich sits inland at about 409 m, roughly 328 km from the coast, where storms tend to travel with the larger weather systems rather than pop up locally.
- Elevation
- 409 m
- Distance to coast
- ~328 km
- Terrain
- Inland lowland
Source: Elevation: open-meteo.com · Coastline: Natural Earth.
Lightning safety in Zurich
When thunderstorms build over Zurich, 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.
Your exact location stays on your device. Never shared. Never tracked.
Frequently asked
How far away is the nearest lightning to Zurich?
StrikeCast shows the live distance to the nearest strike near Zurich, updated continuously from EUMETSAT MTG-LI satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in Zurich 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 Zurich?
Zurich sees the most lightning May–August, the height of Switzerland's storm season.
Can I get lightning alerts for Zurich?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save Zurich, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.
Nearby lightning maps
Data: EUMETSAT MTG-LI.