Is lightning near Memphis right now?
Storm season in Memphis peaks April–September.
Free push alert when lightning approaches Memphis. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season near Memphis
Memphis sits in Tennessee, which averages about 52 thunderstorm days a year — roughly 2.1× the national average of 25. Lightning near Memphis is most frequent April–September.
- TN thunderstorm days/yr
- 52
- Peak season
- April–September
- vs US average
- 2.1×
- Metro population
- ~633.1K
State-level NOAA climatology; a city-specific thunderstorm-day normal isn’t published for every station.
Where Memphis sits
Memphis sits inland at about 276 ft, roughly 327 mi from the coast, where storms tend to travel with the larger weather systems rather than pop up locally.
NOAA logged 14 notable lightning events within 50 miles of Memphis since 2015 — including 2 injuries and 2 deaths.
- Elevation
- 276 ft
- Distance to coast
- ~327 mi
- Terrain
- Inland lowland
Source: Elevation: open-meteo.com · Coastline: Natural Earth · Lightning history: NOAA NCEI Storm Events.
Lightning safety in Memphis
In Memphis, 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 Memphis?
StrikeCast shows the live distance in miles to the nearest strike near Memphis, updated continuously from NOAA GOES-GLM satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in Memphis 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 Memphis?
Memphis sees the most lightning April–September, the height of the regional storm season.
Can I get lightning alerts for Memphis?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save Memphis, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.