Electric Earth
With over 2 billion events a year, lightning is a near-constant presence in our atmosphere. But for all its dazzling beauty, there’s no denying that lightning brings danger, disruption, and destruction to our lives.
Air travel: With 2024 passenger numbers surpassing pre-pandemic levels, we examine the impact of lightning at the world's 20 busiest airports.
Wind energy: As turbines grow taller, so does the risk of lightning strikes. We analyzed 9 years of lightning data to find the most lightning-prone U.S. wind farms.
Record heat: 2024 was the hottest year on record. Our detailed lightning density maps show how lightning activity in 2024 compared with the previous eight-year average.
We also reveal the 2024 U.S. state lightning capitals, rank U.S. states by lightning activity, and highlight the year’s top 5 dates for lightning.
"Severe weather can be life-threatening. Putting the right safety measures in place can make all the difference in keeping people safe, getting from A to B on time, and ensuring renewable energy keeps flowing into the grid."
Ryan Said
Senior Lightning Scientist
Vaisala
Managing lightning risk at the world's busiest airports
Accurate lightning detection is essential for maintaining safety and minimizing delays. Building on the Annual Lightning Report, this essential guide explores the impact of lightning risk on airports and airlines, showing how alert distance and clear time affect the number and duration of lightning risk episodes at the world's busiest airports.
Detailed airport risk profiles
Top 50 airports ranked by lightning risk
US and global impact maps
Real-time lightning detection and data
Vaisala is the global leader in end-to-end lightning solutions that enable safe and efficient operations.
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