Mapping Real Time Lightning Strikes

There is a great new website I recently discovered that looks to revolutionize the way lightning strikes are detected.  Blitzortung.org has made strides in the weather community, plotting each lightning strike in real time.

A fraction of the mystery and amazement that comes along with lightning strikes is measuring their distance from a given location.  It’s obviously a vital piece of information used when both discussing and providing weather safety.  

The most common way people attempt to measure distance of a thunderstorm is more or less a guesstimation…using the age-old technique of “counting the seconds” between a lightning strike and rumble of thunder that follows.

This website looks to provide much more accurate readings by plotting every lightning bolt that hits the Continental US in real-time.   The website also provides lightning information for Asia, Australia, Europe and South America…it’s just not quite as accurate.

How have they managed do this?  They get their readings from a number of “home kits” that are placed throughout the US mainland and beyond.  These devices read lightning strikes that are literally thousands of miles away.  The website itself has more information, so be sure to take a minute to check out this amazing new tool!