Is lightning near Arlington right now?
Storm season in Arlington peaks May–August.
Free push alert when lightning approaches Arlington. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season near Arlington
Lightning near Arlington follows Virginia's pattern of about 40 thunderstorm days a year, roughly 1.6× the national average of 25. Lightning near Arlington is most frequent May–August.
- VA thunderstorm days/yr
- 40
- Peak season
- May–August
- vs US average
- 1.6×
- Metro population
- ~238.6K
State-level NOAA climatology; a city-specific thunderstorm-day normal isn’t published for every station.
Where Arlington sits
At roughly 302 ft and right on the coast, Arlington sees storms fed by warm, moist onshore air, so lightning often arrives ahead of the downpour.
NOAA logged 26 notable lightning events within 50 miles of Arlington since 2015 — including 16 injuries and 5 deaths.
- Elevation
- 302 ft
- Distance to coast
- On the coast
- Terrain
- Coastal
Source: Elevation: open-meteo.com · Coastline: Natural Earth · Lightning history: NOAA NCEI Storm Events.
Lightning safety in Arlington
When thunderstorms build over Arlington, 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 Arlington?
StrikeCast shows the live distance in miles to the nearest strike near Arlington, updated continuously from NOAA GOES-GLM satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in Arlington 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 Arlington?
Arlington sees the most lightning May–August, the height of the regional storm season.
Can I get lightning alerts for Arlington?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save Arlington, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.