Weatherbug Lightning Radar (2024)

FAQs

What weather radar app shows lightning strikes? ›

My Lightning Tracker is the best app for monitoring lightning strikes all around the world in close to real-time. With a sleek modern design, you can watch thunderstorms as they occur. You can also receive notifications whenever strikes are detected in your area.

Lightning Detection Networks

These two systems work by detecting radio waves (sferics) emitted by fast electric currents (strokes) in lightning channels. A “stroke” can be a fast current within the cloud, or a “return stroke” in a channel to ground.

WeatherBug has over 20 weather maps, including Radar, Future Radar, Lightning, Pollen, Severe Storm Risk, Precipitation, and more! Join the millions who rely on WeatherBug for weather forecasts every day!

Strikes are monitored, confirmed and communicated to avoid false alarms. WeatherBug Total Lightning solutions work in conjunction with the WeatherBug Weather Station and adds on-site detection of in-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning, along with alerting tools to various devices and locations.

1. National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) The National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) reigns supreme as the most precise and reliable lightning data network in the continental U.S.

How does it work: AccuWeather app users can turn Lightning Alerts on for their current location and/or other favorite locations, and will be sent a push notification when lightning has been detected within 10 mi (16km) of a location.

The lightning strike locations are given to the nearest 0.001 degree latitude and longitude. This is close to 100 m distance, however the typical error in these locations are more like 500 m.

Radar detects precipitation and Doppler radar provides the enhancement of circulation which helps meteorologists detect tornadoes; but radar does not detect lightning. There are lightning detectors that are used in conjunction with radar to document electrical activity.

In The Weather Channel app (Apple | Google Play), tap the "bell" icon in the upper right corner, then tap “Manage.” You can turn on alerts for lightning strikes nearby, real-time rain, government issued alerts (watches and warnings from the National Weather Service) or you can create your own custom alert.

On First Alert Live Doppler Radar, they're identified with yellow lightning bolts. Positively charged lightning is rarer, but stronger. They're marked on First Alert Live Doppler Radar with white bolts (that can look blue on your screen).

Does red on radar mean thunderstorm? ›

A patch of dark red moving toward your location means there's a thunderstorm on the way. A line of heavy precipitation moving in unison is a sign of a squall line that could pack gusty winds.

How Accurate Is Weatherbug? In terms of accuracy, the program is pretty good. The “daytime” display of the weather bug gives you an indication of the temperature in the general area. This, in turn, helps you determine how to dress appropriately for the weather on that day.

The Weather Channel and 1Weather are also solid options, while Clime NOAA Weather Radar Live and Radarscope are a great way to access more detailed satellite views of the sky. Your stock weather app might be ok for the time being, but it's always worth checking out alternatives on offer.

For more than 20 years Earth Networks has operated the world's largest and most comprehensive weather observation, lightning detection, and climate networks. We are now leveraging our big data smarts to deliver on the promise of IoT.

The arch-shaped pattern with the most intense signal, black shade, indicating large hail just above the arch, is a classic pattern for a severe thunderstorm. This indicates that the updraft was very strong and was holding large hail aloft and allowing it to grow even larger.