AEM 2024 Lightning Report Shows Shifting Lightning Landscape

news image
Special Stories
6 Feb 2025 2:00 AM

Would you believe there were 459 million lightning pulses in the U.S. during 2024? AEM released its 2024 U.S. Lightning Report, showcasing a changing lightning landscape for America.

Key Findings:

  • The 80 million lightning flashes across the U.S. was a 17.7% decrease from the previous year.

  • After an particularly active severe storm season, Midwestern states recorded lightning activity more like the Southeast, including Iowa and Illinois making their way into the top ten states with the highest lightning density.

  • Florida retained its top position with 76 flashes per square mile, followed by Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Kansas.

  • St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, led with a flash density of 266 flashes per square mile, significantly surpassing other counties nationwide.

"The appearance of Illinois and Iowa among the states with the highest annual flash density represents one of the most interesting shifts in lightning activity we've seen in years," said Dr. Elizabeth DiGangi, a lightning scientist at AEM. "While the Southeast and Gulf Coast regions traditionally dominate our annual rankings, 2024's data indicates another way severe weather patterns are evolving in the U.S."

All Weather News
More
Wintry Weather Expected From the Midwest to Northeast

Wintry Weather Expected From the Midwest to Northeast

Persistent lake-effect snow and a series of f

5 Jan 2026 3:00 AM
Late Week Storm System Brings a Different Pattern

Late Week Storm System Brings a Different Pattern

The holidays make it hard to keep track of wh

5 Jan 2026 2:30 AM
Snow Returns to Ski Country

Snow Returns to Ski Country

It's been a slow start to the ski season for

5 Jan 2026 2:25 AM
Flooding, Severe Storms, and Snow Take Aim at California

Flooding, Severe Storms, and Snow Take Aim at California

A Pacific low will continue to unload heavy p

5 Jan 2026 2:20 AM
Record-Breaking Warmth for the Upcoming Week

Record-Breaking Warmth for the Upcoming Week

While there will be a temporary break in reco

5 Jan 2026 2:15 AM
Severe Storms Target the Southeast on Saturday

Severe Storms Target the Southeast on Saturday

After colder air settles into the Southeast e

4 Jan 2026 3:00 AM
Chilly Air Across the Northern States

Chilly Air Across the Northern States

Northern U.S.In the North-Central U.S., an Al

3 Jan 2026 2:00 AM