Washington lightning map
Thunderstorms are infrequent in Washington, occurring mostly over the Cascades and eastern interior during summer heating.
Checking…
Detected from NOAA GOES-19 GLM satellite data. Aggregate count for Washington — your exact location and alerts live in the app.
About lightning in Washington
Thunderstorms are rare west of the Cascades in Washington’s marine climate, and more common in the drier east during summer. Eastern storms are often “dry,” their lightning a wildfire trigger across rangeland and forest. Activity is most likely June through August. Because these storms are infrequent and frequently dry, the live distance to the nearest strike is especially valuable when one does build.
- Thunderstorm days/yr
- 8
- US rank
- #49 of 50
- Peak season
- June–August
State thunderstorm-day normals are provisional (NOAA/NWS); per-city climate data is shown where a station normal is published.
Cities in Washington
Lightning safety in Washington
When storms build across Washington, the distance to the nearest strike matters more than a statewide count. Follow 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. If you can hear thunder, you are already close enough to be struck. 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 push alerts for every place that matters across Washington — home, work, the kids' school.
Your exact location stays on your device. Never shared. Never tracked.
Lightning guides
Frequently asked
How many thunderstorm days does Washington get?
Washington averages about 8 thunderstorm days a year, versus a US average near 25 — roughly 0.3× the national norm. Activity peaks June–August.
Where does Washington rank for lightning in the US?
By mean annual thunderstorm days, Washington ranks #49 of 50 states. Rankings use NOAA/NWS climate normals; the live distance and trend on this page come from NOAA GOES-19 satellite data.
When is thunderstorm season in Washington?
Lightning is most frequent June–August in Washington.
How does StrikeCast track lightning in Washington?
StrikeCast reads NOAA GOES-19 GLM (Geostationary Lightning Mapper) satellite data, updated continuously, to show how far away the nearest strike is and whether it is approaching or moving away. Save any place in Washington in the free app to get a push alert when lightning closes in.