Lightning API
Part of the Foreca Weather API: satellite-detected lightning across the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, so your app can tell users when lightning is close.
Total lightning: in-cloud and cloud-to-ground flashes
New data every 10 minutes · typically 5–15 minutes after the flash
Included in the Nimbus plan · map-wide data on request
Built for stormy days
Lightning data shows your users where storms are active right now and how close they are.
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Weather apps: show live lightning on the map and tell users when a storm is active near them.
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Outdoor and sports apps: let golfers, hikers, runners and event organisers see how close the lightning is before they head out or carry on.
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News and media: show where lightning is striking during severe weather, in stories, live blogs and weather broadcasts.
Lightning API at a glance
The Nimbus plan includes Lightning API. Explore the included features below.
Lightning data
Total lightning as point data: the position and detection time of each flash.
Method
Detected by geostationary weather satellites and processed by Foreca.
Coverage
The Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, from 60°S to 75°N.
Accuracy
Flash positions are accurate to about 8–15 km, a little less near the edges of the coverage.
Updates
New data about every 10 minutes, typically 5–15 minutes after the flash.
Time window
The last 24 hours of lightning, in 10-minute frames.
Compact format
Map-wide data also comes in a compact format, about one third of the full size, for fast whole-world maps.
Format
REST API, JSON. Query by coordinates and radius, or by map area.
How your app gets the data
Ask for the lightning near a location and get every flash from the last 30 minutes within your chosen radius, nearest first, with its distance and compass direction. For storm maps, map-wide data returns every flash in a map view, up to the whole world, in one request per 10-minute frame.
What it works best for
Answering "How close is the lightning right now?" Your app can show "Lightning 8 km SW, 4 minutes ago" and give an all-clear when nothing has been detected within the radius.
Combine with weather maps
Draw the flashes on top of the radar map so your users see the rain and the lightning together.
What each lightning flash tells you
Here are the three nearest of 66 flashes detected within 50 km of Lincoln, Nebraska, in the 30 minutes before 12:46 UTC on 30 October 2026. The flashes come nearest first, not in time order.
Lightning near Lincoln, Nebraska (40.81°N, 96.70°W), 30 October 2026
| Time (UTC) | Distance | Direction | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:17:04 | 14.4 km | S | 40.688°N, 96.642°W |
| 12:18:23 | 16.4 km | SE | 40.678°N, 96.615°W |
| 12:17:19 | 19.0 km | S | 40.644°N, 96.646°W |
Lightning API FAQ
Are these cloud-to-ground lightning strikes?
Not only. The API gives total lightning: each point is one flash, either in-cloud or cloud-to-ground, and the response does not tell which.
Is lightning data available in Asia and Australia?
Not at the moment. Coverage ends at 100°E and starts again at 160°E, so East and Southeast Asia and Australia have no data. Outside the coverage the API returns an empty list, not an error.
What radius should I use for a lightning alert?
10 km or more, which matches the position accuracy. The default radius is 40 km and the maximum 100 km.
How do I show an all-clear?
Ask for just one flash. An empty answer means no lightning was detected within your radius in the last 30 minutes. Check first that the location is inside the coverage.
Can the API warn about lightning before it strikes?
No. It shows lightning that has already been detected. For the chance of thunder in the coming hours, use the thunder probability in Point Forecasts, given as a percentage.
Can I get lightning data older than 24 hours?
Yes, on request. The API has the last 24 hours, and older lightning data is available from us separately. Contact us if you need it.
I only need a lightning map. Which plan do I need?
The Stratus plan. Weather Maps includes every map layer, also the Global Lightning layer and the radar layers with lightning for Europe and North America.
What time zone are the flash times in?
UTC. Convert them to your user's local time in your app.
Start building with lightning data
Read the Lightning Flashes documentation for nearby and map-wide requests, and the weather map layers for lightning on the map.
Want to see the data first? Ask us for sample lightning data.