Lightning flash report 2025
Europe / United Kingdom
Discover Meteorage’s analysis of thunderstorm and electrical activity over the year.
Joris Royet, Chef de projet Météo, METEORAGE
2025 stands out as a year with historically few thunderstorms,
marked by generally low electrical activity across Europe, but punctuated by locally intense episodes.
With around 1.226 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes detected in Europe, 2025 stands out for its thunderstorm activity below the climate normals, making it the year with the fewest lightning flashes observed to date by our Meteorage records. Although the atmospheric conditions limited the development of thunderstorms, some favourable situations nevertheless gave rise to intense, localised episodes, with more marked activity around the Mediterranean basin and on higher ground.
Beyond this report and the spatial distribution observed in 2025, analyses covering the past twenty years highlight a gradual northward shift of the thunderstorm belt, as well as a lengthening of the thunderstorm season, marked by earlier episodes in spring and later occurrences in autumn. These regional disparities are a reminder that lightning is never uniformly distributed and that, even in years when there is little activity, the issues of prevention, surveillance and lightning risk management remain fully relevant.
Our Meteorage lightning detection network recorded in 2025
These values contrast with 2024, when more than 1,967,112 cloud-to-ground lightning flashes were detected in Europe, including 17,853 in the UK, reflecting activity in line with climate normals.
The number of lightning flashes from one year to the next does not in itself reflect the level of danger.
In 2025, there were fewer thunderstorms in Europe, but they were just as intense in some cases, and the risk to exposed activities could appear at any time.
— Stéphane Schmitt, Lightning Application Expert, Meteorage
Key facts
Although lightning flash activity in 2025 was below historical averages, the high interannual variability of thunderstorm activity does not yet allow a robust statistical trend to be identified.
360 days with thunderstorms
Most of the storm activity was concentrated between June and August (64%), when unstable conditions were most favourable, with a marked peak in June and almost 284,200 cloud-to-ground lightning flashes recorded across the continent, illustrating a sometimes early thunderstorm season.
In 2025, atmospheric circulation at European level favoured a concentration of convective activity around the Mediterranean.
The recurrent presence of high geopotentials over central and northern Europe limited the advance of unstable systems towards the north of the continent.
As a result, low-pressure circulations and dynamic forcing remained at low latitudes, interacting with warmer, more humid air masses around the Mediterranean, creating an environment more favourable to electrical activity.
— Joris Royet, Weather Project Manager, Meteorage
Top 10 most lightning-struck countries in Europe in 2025
The frequency, geographical distribution and intensity of thunderstorms vary with the seasons, depending on temperature, humidity and atmospheric dynamics.
The spring season totalled 233,316 cloud-to-ground lightning flashes, with very heterogeneous geographical distribution: little activity over the northern half of Europe, which remained largely under the influence of persistent anticyclonic conditions, greatly limiting the development of thunderstorms. Conversely, there was more regular activity in the south of the continent, particularly around the Mediterranean basin.
During this period, Spain was the country most affected, with 97,219 cloud-to-ground lightning flashes.
Summer saw 775,394 cloud-to-ground lightning flashes, representing more than half of the annual activity.
Although the thunderstorms developed mainly along the classic Spain – France – Germany axis, Italy also saw significant activity, becoming the country most struck by lightning in Europe during this season.
In the autumn, thunderstorms continued mainly:
- over the seas,
- over Mediterranean coastal regions (eastern Spain, southern France, Italy).
This local intensification is explained by the persistence of warm surface waters, while the lower continental layers cooled more rapidly. This vertical temperature contrast favoured convection, making thunderstorms sometimes intense and very rainy, depending on the passage of low-pressure systems.
Key facts
2025, a year with few lightning flashes
In 2025, the UK recorded 9,392 cloud-to-ground lightning flashes, a total in the lower range of the last 25 years.
Thunderstorm activity was mainly concentrated between May and September, with a peak in June of more than 2,700 cloud-to-ground lightning flashes.
131 days with thunderstorms
Lightning in UK
Ranking of countries in 2024
by number of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes
Move over the graph to view the data.
by lightning density of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes per km²/year
| 01. England | 0.04 |
| 02. Wales | 0.03 |
| 03. Scotland | 0.02 |
| 04. Northern Ireland | 0.01 |
Top 10 most lightning-struck County in UK
by number of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes
Move over the graph to view the data.
by lightning density of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes per km²/year
| 01. SUFFOLK (England) | 0.15 |
| 02. KENT (England) | 0.12 |
| 03. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE (England) | 0.10 |
| 04. ISLE OF WIGHT (England) | 0.08 |
| 05. BRISTOL (England) | 0.08 |
| 06. ISLE OF ANGLESEY (Wales) | 0.08 |
| 07. ANGUS (Scotland) | 0.08 |
| 08. WEST SUSSEX (England)) | 0.07 |
| 09. EAST SUSSEX (England) | 0.07 |
| 10. NORFOLK (England) | 0.06 |
Spring was fairly quiet, with only 1,151 cloud-to-ground lightning flashes, well down on the previous spring, which recorded 6,500 flashes. This low level of activity can be explained by relatively stable conditions, under the influence of frequent high pressure over the north-west of the continent, limiting instability and the triggering of thunderstorms.
The summer continued this trend, with moderate activity. In total, 5,749 cloud-to-ground lightning flashes were detected over the months of June, July and August, indicating moderate summer activity, well below the levels observed during the stormiest summers.
In Autumn, september was a relatively stormy month, linked to strong thermal contrasts in western Europe, with a total of almost 1,745 cloud-to-ground lightning flashes. Weather during the rest of autumn was calmer, with few significant stormy episodes.
CASE STUDY
14 August 2025, organised thunderstorms in the north of the UK
857 cloud-to-ground lightning flashes were detected over the United Kingdom on 14 August 2025, concentrated in the north, making it the day of the year with the most lightning flashes, tying with 21 June. Thunderstorm activity was concentrated in the north of the UK, mainly over the Highlands and mountain ranges, while the south remained under the influence of high pressure and high temperatures, limiting convection.
On 14 August 2025, the United Kingdom presented a mixed picture:
- The south of the country remained under the influence of a high-pressure system, with high temperatures and stable air, leading to continued scorching conditions.
- The north, on the other hand, came under the influence of a high-altitude trough associated with a cold drop over the Atlantic, which advected cooler, unstable air over Scotland and the Highlands.
This vertical thermal contrast, combined with orographic forcing by the Highlands, favoured the ascent of warm, humid air. Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) values reached 1500 to 2000 J/kg, enough to provide the energy needed for the development of locally intense storm cells.
Altitude forcing began at the end of the morning from the south. This triggered all the storm activity, which continued until early evening, concentrated mainly in the mountainous areas to the north.
Electrical report
857 cloud-to-ground lightning flashes detected in the United Kingdom
→ Moderate to locally heavy precipitation over the Scottish highlands
2025, a quiet year, but real impacts.
Major accidents in 2025
Energy : wind turbines damaged or destroyed by lightning in the Netherlands, Spain and France, causing fires and major economic losses.
Transport : delays and interruptions to air travel (Orly and CDG airports) and rail travel in France, Germany and the UK following strikes on signalling systems.
Industry : business stoppages and damage to property following direct strikes on industrial sites (distillery and workshops in France) and leisure infrastructures (cable car in Italy).
Agriculture : mortality of sometimes entire herds in Spain and Ireland
Environment: at least two major forest fires were started by lightning, in Switzerland (Ticino) and Portugal (Coimbra district)
LOW ACTIVITY ≠ LOW RISK
Although 2025 was less stormy than normal at European level, the risk from lightning remained very real. The fall in the total number of lightning flashes does not automatically reduce exposure, which affects many sectors of activity.
Any thunderstorm, even a moderate one, can cause major and sometimes unexpected damage, including business stoppages, damage to sensitive equipment, economic losses or human risks.
A permanent risk, without borders or seasons
An analysis of the accidents which occurred in 2025 confirms that the consequences of lightning are not limited to extreme situations or to the summer period alone. The events recorded are spread throughout the year, demonstrating that the risk is permanent, even for phenomena considered minor. It is crucial to remember that the majority of serious accidents occur on days with a yellow weather warning, or even without any particular warning.
The accident at La Barben zoo (France) which occurred on a stormy but far from exceptional day, is a striking illustration of this.
This underlines the need for constant vigilance, even during episodes described as “moderate”.
Prevention for better protection
In response to this widespread risk, adopting appropriate preventive measures is essential with regard to raising awareness, the organisation of outdoor activities, protecting infrastructures and disseminating best practice to exposed teams.
With this in mind, Meteorage helps its customers and partners to protect themselves better, with training, lightning data, and warning, analysis and decision-making services. This expertise is also part of a wider mission to disseminate a risk culture through our commitment to standardisation, our international studies and publications, as well as educational initiatives and prevention messages accessible to all.
At Meteorage, we help our customers anticipate, monitor and manage thunderstorm risks with solutions tailored to each sector of activity.
Every day, our data enables our customers to schedule planned stoppages, protect their on-site teams, ensure continuity of service and secure their priority operations.
Terminology
To help you better understand the information in this report, here are the definitions for some of the most frequently used terms.
Cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flash
Discharge of current of a certain intensity circulating between the cloud and the ground. Abbreviated to CG (Cloud-to-Ground).
Lightning density
The best current representation of thunderstorm activity is lightning density, which is the number of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes per km² per year.
Lightning flash
All current discharges and electrical impulses from a lightning event. A lightning flash can occur within the same cloud (IC), between a cloud and the ground (CG) or between two clouds (CC). A lightning flash can be composed of one stroke or many strokes, which are current discharges and electrical impulses.
Thunder day
Each day that lightning was detected in a given area.
About this lightning report
The lightning report is based on data provided by the METEORAGE network – the European Lightning Detection Network (ELDN).
The information we provide concerns cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes and lightning density.
To be able to compare these data with the data collected, METEORAGE counts the main current pulse circulating between the cloud and the ground, defined in this report by the term “Cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flash”.
Our expertise draws on more than ten years of analysis, observation and data collected in Europe, and more broadly worldwide. We have over 37 years’ expertise in France.
The performance of our network has been validated scientifically and delivers the best possible results with:
- > 98% lightning flash detection,
- a median detection accuracy of 100 meters,
- > 90% distinction made between cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes and intra-cloud lightning flashes.
The METEORAGE network (ELDN) consists of more than 100 lightning sensors, calculators and a processing system that manages the databases. Our lightning sensors are based on the Vaisala technology, currently considered one of the best in the world. Our network achieves levels of performance validated by numerous scientific studies and publications.
This 2024 report is based on the most comprehensive source of information in the United Kingdom. The data, densities, rankings and thunder days in this report are dated from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.
