PredictWind's lightning feature provides the most comprehensive and accurate lightning network worldwide. Real-time updates include new lightning strikes every five minutes. Lightning coverage includes sensors in over one hundred countries, remote areas, oceans and polar regions with precision near 100m. The sophisticated algorithms and machine learning models which process the sensor data offer world-leading location and lightning classification accuracy with filtering to maintain a low false alarm rate.

Tracking lightning is essential for safety and protecting equipment on land or at sea. Lightning strikes can cause injury, fires, and equipment damage, disrupting critical systems like navigation and communication on boats and damaging structures or electronics on land. Monitoring lightning enables you to make informed decisions, such as finding shelter or adjusting your route, to avoid high-risk areas. Staying aware of lightning risks helps you protect yourself, your gear, and your journey, wherever you are.

Lightning is displayed by default on the Forecast Maps page and can be toggled off in the Forecast Options. Lighting strikes can be viewed using the timeline on the map for up to the last hour, appearing and fading in opacity on the map over ten minutes.

To view a Lightning Map without other weather data on the Forecast website:

Lightning strike details include the time, location and the following:

The amplitude of lightning is measured by its peak current (amps), which can vary widely depending on the type and intensity of the strike. Lightning is displayed on the map in kiloamperes (kA), where 1 kA equals 1,000 amperes and can carry either a positive or negative charge.

Negative lighting is the most common type and the primary form of thunderstorm activity, making up about 90-95% of all strikes. Negative lightning transfers negative charges from the cloud to the ground or from within the lower regions of a thundercloud to the upper part.

Positive lightning is less common (5-10% of strikes) but much more powerful. It occurs when positive charges from the upper parts of a thundercloud travel to the negatively charged ground or cloud areas. These strikes often carry currents up to ten times higher than negative lightning and last longer, causing more significant damage.

Positive lightning is typically associated with severe weather, especially near the end of a storm, and is more common in winter storms. Its longer duration increases the risk of wildfires due to its ability to ignite dry vegetation.