Lightning Map Anchorage, AK
Real-time lightning tracking for Anchorage, Alaska. This city averages 3 thunderstorm days per year, making lightning awareness important for Anchorage residents and visitors.
Data sourced from NOAA GOES-19 GLM and the Storm Prediction Center.
Real-Time Lightning Near Anchorage
Monitor live lightning strikes and approaching storms
Live Lightning Data for Anchorage
App links are added after release. For now, use this city page plus the nearby-lightning and alert guides to make faster weather and safety calls in Anchorage.
App links go live at release. For now use the lightning maps and guides on this site.
Thunderstorm Season in Anchorage
When to expect lightning activity in Anchorage, AK
Thunderstorms in Anchorage are concentrated in the summer months of June through August. July is typically the most active month for lightning. While the thunderstorm season is shorter than in southern states, storms can be intense with frequent cloud-to-ground lightning.
Compared to the national average of approximately 25 thunderstorm days per year, Anchorage sees 22 fewer days of thunderstorm activity. The Alaska statewide average is 3 days.
Lightning Safety Tips for Anchorage
Essential guidelines to stay safe during thunderstorms
30-30 Rule
When you see lightning, count to 30. If you hear thunder before reaching 30, get indoors. Wait 30 minutes after the last thunderclap before going outside.
Seek Shelter
With 3 thunderstorm days annually, residents of Anchorage should always have a shelter plan. Move inside a substantial building or hard-topped vehicle.
Stay Informed
Use Lightning Tracker to monitor real-time lightning near Anchorage. Set alerts for your neighborhood to get advance warning of approaching storms.
Avoid Open Areas
Stay away from open fields, hilltops, isolated trees, and bodies of water during storms. If hiking, descend from ridges and peaks immediately.
Useful Guides for Anchorage
These guides match the nearby-lightning and alert questions people ask most often
Use this guide to judge nearby strike danger fast, especially when storms are building near your neighborhood.
Alerts Best alert options for Anchorage stormsSee how app alerts, NOAA weather radio, and local warnings work when storms move toward your city.
Map guide How to read live lightning around AnchorageUnderstand strike clusters, motion, and timing so you can decide when to get indoors.
Nearby Cities in Alaska
Monitor lightning in other Alaska cities