Is lightning near Seattle right now?
Storm season in Seattle peaks June–August.
Free push alert when lightning approaches Seattle. Your exact location and alerts live in the app.
Thunderstorm season near Seattle
Lightning near Seattle follows Washington's pattern of about 8 thunderstorm days a year, below the national average of 25. Lightning near Seattle is most frequent June–August.
- WA thunderstorm days/yr
- 8
- Peak season
- June–August
- vs US average
- 0.3×
- Metro population
- ~737K
State-level NOAA climatology; a city-specific thunderstorm-day normal isn’t published for every station.
Where Seattle sits
At roughly 194 ft and right on the coast, Seattle sees storms fed by warm, moist onshore air, so lightning often arrives ahead of the downpour.
NOAA logged 1 notable lightning event within 50 miles of Seattle since 2015.
- Elevation
- 194 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 Seattle
When thunderstorms build over Seattle, 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 Seattle?
StrikeCast shows the live distance in miles to the nearest strike near Seattle, updated continuously from NOAA GOES-GLM satellite data, plus whether it is approaching or moving away.
Is it safe to be outside in Seattle 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 Seattle?
Seattle sees the most lightning June–August, the height of the regional storm season.
Can I get lightning alerts for Seattle?
Yes. Get the free StrikeCast app, save Seattle, and you will get a push alert when lightning approaches — no need to keep the app open.