Is lightning near Houston right now?
No lightning near Houston right now.
Free push alert when lightning approaches Houston. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season in Houston
Houston records roughly 61 thunderstorm days in an average year — roughly 2.4× the national average of 25. Among the cities StrikeCast tracks, Houston is the most lightning-active in its state. That's more than nearby San Antonio (36) and Austin (41). The busiest stretch runs April–September, at the height of Texas's storm season.
- Thunderstorm days/yr
- 61
- Peak season
- April–September
- vs US average
- 2.4×
- Rank in TX
- 1st
- Metro population
- ~2.3M
Source: NOAA / WMO climate normals — mean annual days with thunderstorms (1961–2010). City rank reflects the US cities StrikeCast tracks.
Where Houston sits
At roughly 66 ft and right on the coast, Houston sees storms fed by warm, moist onshore air, so lightning often arrives ahead of the downpour.
NOAA logged 61 notable lightning events within 50 miles of Houston since 2015 — including 11 injuries and 6 deaths.
- Elevation
- 66 ft
- Distance to coast
- ~19 mi
- Terrain
- Coastal
Source: Elevation: open-meteo.com · Coastline: Natural Earth · Lightning history: NOAA NCEI Storm Events.
Lightning safety in Houston
When thunderstorms build over Houston, 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 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 Houston?
StrikeCast shows the live distance in miles to the nearest strike near Houston, updated continuously from NOAA GOES-GLM satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in Houston 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 Houston?
Houston sees the most lightning April–September, averaging about 61 thunderstorm days a year.
Where does Houston rank for lightning?
Among the US cities StrikeCast tracks, Houston is the 1st-most lightning-active in TX, at about 61 thunderstorm days a year.
Can I get lightning alerts for Houston?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save Houston, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.