Is lightning near Austin right now?
No lightning near Austin right now.
Free push alert when lightning approaches Austin. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season in Austin
Austin, TX averages about 41 thunderstorm days a year — roughly 1.6× the national average of 25. Among the cities StrikeCast tracks, Austin is the 4th-most active in its state. That's more lightning than nearby San Antonio (36 days) but less than Houston (61). The busiest stretch runs April–September, at the height of Texas's storm season.
- Thunderstorm days/yr
- 41
- Peak season
- April–September
- vs US average
- 1.6×
- Rank in TX
- 4th
- Metro population
- ~961.9K
Source: NOAA / WMO climate normals — mean annual days with thunderstorms (1961–2010). City rank reflects the US cities StrikeCast tracks.
Where Austin sits
At around 515 ft and about 125 mi inland, Austin's lightning usually rides through with passing fronts and complexes.
NOAA logged 17 notable lightning events within 50 miles of Austin since 2015 — including 0 injuries1 death.
- Elevation
- 515 ft
- Distance to coast
- ~125 mi
- Terrain
- Inland lowland
Source: Elevation: open-meteo.com · Coastline: Natural Earth · Lightning history: NOAA NCEI Storm Events.
Lightning safety in Austin
In Austin, 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 Austin?
StrikeCast shows the live distance in miles to the nearest strike near Austin, updated continuously from NOAA GOES-GLM satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in Austin 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 Austin?
Austin sees the most lightning April–September, averaging about 41 thunderstorm days a year.
Where does Austin rank for lightning?
Among the US cities StrikeCast tracks, Austin is the 4th-most lightning-active in TX, at about 41 thunderstorm days a year.
Can I get lightning alerts for Austin?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save Austin, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.