Here's how often lightning strikes in San Antonio
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
After multiple storms swept through San Antonio this week, we're looking at how often lightning strikes around the Alamo City.
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 one of America's lightning capitals, as it's home to all of the top 10 U.S. counties ranked by lightning strikes per square mile in 2024, per weather data firm Vaisala Xweather.
- Walker County had about 825 strikes per square mile in 2024; Limestone County had 811; and Madison County had 795. All are along or close to I-45 between Houston and Dallas.
Yes, but: Things aren't as scary in Bexar County, where there were about 66 strikes per square mile last year.
Reality check: Still, that's more than 83,000 strikes in Bexar County in 2024.
- One strike caused a house fire in far west Bexar County last year, per KENS. The home was not occupied at the time.
Between the lines: Texas' lightning hotspot status isn't random — it's more prone to strikes as a result of consistent storms tied to its climate and geography.
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 cloud-to-ground and in-cloud lightning.