Lightning AlertsPositive ground strikes only
Tap Filter, choose Ground, then Positive. About 1 in 10 strikes is positive, and the strongest of them can trigger red sprites.
Live lightning map · iOS and Android
See the positive strikes behind red sprites.
Red sprites flash high above strong storms, usually right after a powerful positive ground strike. Show only positive ground strikes on the live map, find the strongest and see how far away each one is and in which direction.
Pick the storm. Aim above it.
Photo (cropped): Zdenek Bardon/ESO, CC BY 4.0
Sprite chasing features
The strongest first
Color strikes by strength, hide weaker ones with the strength slider or tap Find and choose Strongest in view.
Distance and direction
Tap a strike to see how far away it is and in which direction, with its peak current in kA and how long ago it struck.
Sprite guide
What sprite chasers need to know
The basics from NASA, NOAA and sprite researchers, with a link to each source.
- 1 in 10 lightning strikes is positive.
- About 2% of positive strikes are strong enough to trigger a sprite, according to NASA Science.
- 60–250 mi from the storm (100–400 km) is where NASA's Spritacular project suggests you watch from.
- < 0.1 s is how long a sprite usually lasts, so keep the camera recording.
What a red sprite is
A red sprite is a brief flash of red light high above a strong thunderstorm. Sprites appear about 45 miles (70 km) or more above the ground, a cluster can be 10 miles (16 km) wide and 30 miles (50 km) tall, and they usually last only a few hundredths of a second. Their shapes have names like carrots, columns, angels and jellyfish.
Sources: NASA Science · UHU · NOAA NSSL
What triggers them
Most observed sprites appear a split second after a powerful positive cloud-to-ground strike. Positive strikes are uncommon, and only a small share of them sets off a sprite. In one four-year camera study in the United States, just 6 of 1,651 sprites came from negative strikes.
Sources: NOAA NSSL · NASA Science · Li et al. 2012 (JGR)
Why peak current is only a clue
A sprite needs a stroke that moves far more electric charge than a typical one, and positive strokes often keep current flowing after the first surge. Peak current, shown in kiloamperes (kA), measures that first surge, so a high kA value marks a promising strike rather than a sure sprite.
Sources: UHU · NOAA NSSL · Li et al. 2012 (JGR)
How far away to watch from
To see the sky above a storm, you have to be far from it: NASA's Spritacular project suggests 60 to 250 miles (100 to 400 km). With a low, open horizon of about 5°, you can see the whole height where sprites appear above storms up to about 220 miles (350 km) away. If hills lift your horizon to 10°, that distance drops to about 125 miles (200 km). From farther away, you may still catch the upper parts of sprites.
Sources: NASA Spritacular · UHU
Which storms to pick
Large storm systems and squall lines with frequent lightning give the best odds. The biggest sprites usually come in a storm's mature or late stage, from huge strikes in the wide cloud layers around its strongest cells. Clouds between you and the storm hide everything, so check the sky in that direction too.
Sources: UHU · NASA Science
Camera and timing
A DSLR or mirrorless camera on a tripod with a 20–85 mm lens works well, and even a mid-range phone can catch a sprite. Focus at infinity, aim about a fist's width above the distant lightning, and record video or continuous shots. Set the camera clock to an accurate time source: with the exact time, researchers can find the lightning stroke behind your sprite.
Sources: NASA Spritacular · UHU · NASA Science
We checked these sources on October 11, 2026. They are not affiliated with Lightning Alerts and do not endorse the app.
In the app
From every strike to the one that matters
Show only positive ground strikes, color them by strength and open one strike for its peak current, distance and direction.
Filter cloud flashes
Use Ground mode when storms fill the map.
Storm strength view
See strike strength distribution, not just dots.
See what struck
Type, polarity, strength, age, distance, and street context.
Sprite chasing with Lightning Alerts
Pick a storm on the live map, aim the camera, get an alert for the area you watch and keep a record of what you caught.
How do I show only positive strikes?
On the live map, tap Filter, choose Ground, then Positive. Only positive ground strikes stay on the map, so the few strikes most likely to trigger sprites stand out in a busy storm. Drag the strength slider to hide weaker strikes too.
How do I find the strongest positive strikes?
On the live map, tap the New–Old legend and choose Strength. Strikes turn from light blue for weaker to dark blue for stronger, measured as peak current in kA. With only positive strikes showing, tap Find and choose Strongest in view to jump to the strongest one on the screen.
How do I find a distant storm and know where to aim?
Zoom out on the live map to scan storm systems hundreds of miles away. Tap a strike to see its distance and direction from you, such as 180 mi SW. Face that way and aim about a fist's width above the lightning on the horizon.
How do I know if a storm is still active?
On the live map, red marks strikes from the last 10 minutes, then orange and pale yellow mark older strikes up to 60 minutes old. While new red strikes keep appearing, the storm is still going. Tap a strike to see how long ago it struck.
Can I get an alert when storms reach the area I watch?
Yes. Save the area you plan to watch as your saved place, even one 250 miles (400 km) away, and set its alert distance up to 30 miles (50 km). You get an alert when lightning is detected there. If Quiet hours are on, alerts arrive without sound during them, so check that setting before a sprite night.
What should I record when I catch a sprite?
Note the exact time and where you stood. Within the hour, look on the live map for positive strikes in that direction from about the same moment. Open a likely one and tap Share this strike: the text gives its place, local time, peak current and distance from you. A match is a candidate, not proof that this strike caused your sprite. Post it with your photo, or upload your sprites to NASA's Spritacular project.
Plan sprite nights with Lightning Alerts
Positive strikes, strength, distance and alerts in one focused lightning app.
Polarity and peak current
Enterprise-grade lightning data shows each detected ground strike's polarity and peak current in kA when available.
No account needed
Open the live map and the positive-strike filter without creating an app account.
Free on iPhone and Android
The free version includes the live map, filters, strike details and alerts, with ads. Pro removes ads.