The states with the most lightning strikes
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.

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.
