Getting struck by lightning is a rare but real risk during thunderstorms. While we often think of lightning strikes happening during the day, the truth is lightning can strike at any time – including at night. Understanding when and where lightning is most likely to strike can help you stay safe if you find yourself in a thunderstorm at night.
Why lightning happens more often during the day
Lightning is created by imbalances between storm clouds and the ground. During the day, the sun heats the surface of the Earth, causing warm air to rise. This rising air destabilizes the atmosphere and causes updrafts that contribute to storm clouds forming. The solar heating also creates differences in temperature and moisture at ground level that set the stage for lightning to occur.
Because of these daytime conditions, more than 70% of lightning strikes happen between noon and midnight, with a peak in the late afternoon and early evening. The most lightning strikes typically happen between 3 pm and 9 pm when solar heat, combined with moisture, produces more active thunderstorms.
However, this does not mean lightning cannot happen at night. The same atmospheric conditions that cause lightning during the day can continue overnight as well.
What causes lightning at night
While less common than daytime lightning, nighttime lightning happens for a few key reasons:
- Lingering atmospheric instability at night from daytime solar heating can continue to fuel thunderstorms and lightning activity.
- The boundary between hot and cold air masses acts as a “lifting mechanism” at night. When winds force hot air over cool air at night, the atmosphere becomes unstable, leading to thunderstorms and lightning.
- Moisture from bodies of water at night, such as lakes or the ocean, creates ideal conditions for nighttime thunderstorms to form.
- Fronts moving into an area during the night can lead to lightning. Cold fronts or dry fronts that move into a moist, unstable air mass are likely to generate thunderstorms and lightning at night.
While daytime heating is the biggest driver of lightning overall, these nighttime factors mean lightning remains a hazard in the dark.
Dangerous nighttime lightning myths
There are some common misconceptions about lightning safety at night. These myths can give a false sense of security and put people in danger.
Myth: Lightning is less frequent at night
While daytime lightning is more common, lightning at night is still frequent and dangerous. An estimated 20 million lightning strikes hit the ground in the U.S. each year. Approximately 10% of these strikes happen overnight between midnight and 6 am.
Just because lightning is slightly less likely at night does not mean there is no risk. Thunderstorms can form quickly and lightning can travel 10-20 miles from its parent storm, striking in what seems like a clear sky.
Myth: It’s safe to take shelter under trees at night
Trees are one of the most dangerous places to take shelter during a thunderstorm since they act as lightning rods. This applies both day and night. Lying underneath a tree means you are in close proximity to the tallest local object likely to be struck. Even if the tree itself is not hit directly, lightning can jump from the tree to a person sheltering beneath it.
At night, the dangers of trees are harder to see but just as present. Stay away from trees and seek proper shelter instead.
Myth: Rubber tires or shoes protect you from lightning
Some people think rubber tires or rubber-soled shoes provide protection from lightning at night if you are caught outside. This is another dangerous myth – ordinary tires and shoes offer no lightning protection.
Lightning can pass through or arc around ordinary rubber. The extensive conductive metal framework in a vehicle and in shoes means you are not insulated. The safest places to be are inside a building or vehicle cabin, away from windows.
Lightning safety tips at night
To stay as safe as possible from lightning strikes at night, follow these tips:
- Check the forecast for thunderstorms each day and night. Be aware if storms are expected overnight.
- Postpone or cancel outdoor plans if thunderstorms are likely.
- Get inside sturdy buildings or metal-topped vehicles at the first signs of a storm.
- Avoid open fields, hilltops, water, trees, and sheds. These do not provide adequate shelter.
- Monitor signs of developing storms like high winds or distant rumbles of thunder.
- Wait at least 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder before going back outside.
- Unplug appliances and electronics to prevent damage from power surges.
- Bring pets indoors in a storm to keep them safe.
Paying attention to weather forecasts and seeking proper shelter at the first signs of lightning can help keep you safe even in surprise overnight storms.
Places with a high risk of night lightning
Some regions of the United States are especially prone to dangerous lightning overnight:
- Florida – Moist ocean air and sea breezes lead to frequent thunderstorms at night along the Florida coasts.
- Central Gulf Coast – Coastal areas from Texas to Alabama see regular overnight lightning from moisture moving inland off the Gulf of Mexico.
- Central High Plains – Kansas, Nebraska and eastern Colorado have a high risk of extreme nighttime thunderstorms, especially in spring and summer.
- Arizona Monsoon Region – Frequent monsoon thunderstorms produce dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning across Arizona from July to September, often overnight.
These lightning hotspots have double the annual lightning strikes compared to the rest of the contiguous U.S. Use extra caution in these areas by monitoring forecasts closely and seeking early shelter even from distant storms.
Times of year with high overnight lightning risk
The risk of being caught outside in a nighttime thunderstorm also varies throughout the year:
| Months | Reason for Increased Overnight Lightning |
|---|---|
| July and August | Hot summertime conditions create frequent evening thunderstorms that can continue overnight |
| September | Remnants of tropical systems often bring overnight thunderstorms as hurricane season peaks |
| Spring | Warming temperatures coupled with strong frontal boundaries make overnight thunderstorms likely, especially in the Central U.S. |
| Winter (in southern states) | Strong cold fronts moving across the South in winter can generate unstable conditions and thunderstorms at night |
Pay extra attention to the weather and have a plan to take quick shelter during these months when thunderstorms are more likely to form overnight.
Conclusion
While less common than daytime lightning, nighttime lightning still poses a significant safety hazard. Approximately 10% of all lightning happens overnight, so it is critical to monitor weather conditions closely and seek proper shelter at night. Sturdy buildings or metal-topped vehicles provide the only safe places if caught in a storm at night. Avoid trees, open areas, and misconceptions about rubber tires or shoes protecting you. With smart planning around weather forecasts and quick action when thunderstorms approach, you can minimize the risk of being struck by lightning even at night.