01
Filter cloud flashes
Use Ground mode when storms fill the map.
Check lightning strikes on maps before you go.
Review detected lightning strikes across map views for your current area, a saved place, and changing outdoor plans.
Mapped strike context.
See it in action
Eight things the live map shows you.
02
See what struck
Type, polarity, strength, age, distance, and street context.
03
Open from alerts
Nearby strike notifications open back to the live map.
04
Cloud or ground
Separate intracloud flashes from ground-reaching strikes.
05
Live lightning map
Age colors and closest activity at a glance.
06
Radar with lightning
Compare rain movement with nearby strikes.
07
Saved-place alerts
Monitor the places you care about.
08
Storm strength view
See strike strength distribution, not just dots.
Mapped strike activity
Review detected strikes around your current area or a saved place.
Recent activity patterns
Use strike age and nearby activity to understand where storms have been active.
Place-based alerts
Get notified when detected lightning activity moves near places you care about.
Lightning strikes maps: quick answers
Short answers about what lightning strikes maps show, how recent data updates, and how to compare detected activity.
What do Lightning Alerts maps show?
See recent ground-reaching and intracloud strikes around your current area or a saved place. Compare strike age and nearby activity, then open a strike for available details.
Can I compare lightning around more than one place?
Yes. Use your current area for what is happening nearby, then switch to a saved place to check home, a destination, sports field, beach, or another location.
What makes a busy lightning map easier to read?
Ground mode filters cloud flashes so ground-reaching strikes stand out. You can also view radar and lightning together for more storm context.
Why people compare Lightning Alerts
Map-based lightning awareness for nearby plans and places.
Check places before plans
Use mapped strike activity before travel stops, sports, water activities, or outdoor work.
See detected strikes in context
View recent strike activity as one awareness signal while weather changes.
Focus on locations that matter
Use current-area and saved-place views instead of a generic weather map.