The Lightning Archive gives you a historical look at past thunderstorms in the period 1 January 1999 to 30 June 2026. The data comes from the European lightning detection network operated by Siemens BLIDS / ALDIS BLIDS (Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Belgium, Netherlands and Austria).
Precise lightning analysis down to street level
In this archive you can see whether lightning really struck near you and whether the thunder that woke you up back then was a weak rumbler or a wild house-shaker. Zoom in on the map to your town, county or region and click on any strike of your choice. On a street map you will see whether it was only a cloud flash or a strike very close by.
+ or - marks positively or negatively charged strikes that reached the ground.
• marks a cloud flash.
Lightning intensity classification
Lightning intensity is measured in kiloamperes (kA) and shown when you click on an individual strike. Jörg Kachelmann has classified the various intensities as follows:
- 0 to 3 kA: weak rumbler
- 3 to 7 kA: medium roller
- 7 to 40 kA: strong slammer
- 40 to 100 kA: angry roarer
- from 100 kA: wild house shaker
How are the strikes located so precisely?
Every lightning discharge generates an electromagnetic field that propagates in waves from its origin in all directions at the speed of light. From the differences in the times recorded at the receivers (antennas), the strike location is calculated. This method makes it possible to locate every strike and also to determine its polarity and current.
