The states with the most lightning strikes
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Texas, Florida and Oklahoma are America's lightning capitals, per weather data firm Vaisala Xweather.
Why it matters: Aside from the immediate danger to people, aircraft and infrastructure, lightning can spark wildfires — and the number of strikes is predicted to increase amid climate change, researchers have found.
By the numbers: Texas is home to all of the top 10 U.S. counties ranked by lightning strikes per square mile in 2024, per Vaisala Xweather's report.
- Walker County, Texas, had about 825 strikes per square mile in 2024, Limestone County, Texas, had 811, and Madison County, Texas, had 795.
Yes, but: In terms of most lightning strikes overall, Polk County, Florida, is the big winner, with nearly 852,000 for the year.
- Limestone County, Texas, came second (about 757,000) and Palm Beach County, Florida, in third (713,000).
Between the lines: These results are largely preordained, reflecting thunderstorms and hurricanes driven by climate and geography in and around the Gulf.
Zoom in: Outside Texas, Florida and Oklahoma, Pima County, Arizona, had the most overall lightning strikes in 2024, with about 487,000.
Stunning stat: Only three days in 2024, all in January, came and went with no lightning detected across the U.S.
How it works: Vaisala Xweather's data comes from sensors that use radio waves to detect and triangulate lightning strikes, with a claimed median accuracy of 84 meters (just under 300 feet).
- The data includes both cloud-to-ground and in-cloud lightning.
