Over 459 million pulses across the U.S. and Illinois and Iowa Join Top 10 States for Lightning Density in Year of Shifting Weather Patterns

AEM, the essential source for environmental insights, today released its 2024 U.S. Lightning Report, revealing a startling reshaping of America's lightning landscape. Last year, AEM’s Earth Networks Total Lightning Network® detected over 459 million lightning pulses within 80 million lightning flashes across the U.S., a 17.7% decrease from 2023.

The report documents an extraordinary year where traditional patterns were upended, as Midwestern states witnessed lightning activity typically reserved for Dixie Alley and lower parts of Tornado Alley. This unusual shift challenges decades of established weather patterns and signals potential long-term changes in severe weather distribution across the United States.

The report showed that in 2024, Illinois and Iowa experienced abnormally vigorous storm seasons, propelling them into the top 10 states for lightning flash density. Compared with 2023, Illinois, previously ranked 17th, and Iowa, previously ranked 21st, saw dramatic increases in lightning activity. These states, typically not associated with such high flash density, joined states like Florida and Louisiana, which consistently lead in this metric each year.

This anomaly can be attributed to an active storm season in the Upper Midwest. Iowa set a new state record with 125 tornadoes in 2024, while Illinois faced over 100 tornadoes by mid-July, double its annual average. In July, 41 tornadoes struck the Chicagoland area in just two days as a large-scale storm system swept through. Consequently, both states recorded substantial year-over-year increases in lightning activity, with Iowa and Illinois experiencing 24% and 9% more lightning flashes than in 2023, respectively.

Key Findings from the 2024 Report

• Top States by Flash Density: Florida retained its top position with 76 flashes per square mile, followed by Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
• Top Counties by Flash Density: St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, led with a flash density of 266 flashes per square mile, significantly surpassing other counties nationwide.
• Dangerous Thunderstorm Alerts (DTAs): Texas had the highest number of DTAs issued within its borders, with over 6,800 alerts in 2024.

"The appearance of Illinois and Iowa among the states with the highest annual flash density represents one of the most interesting shifts in lightning activity we've seen in years," said Dr. Elizabeth DiGangi, a lightning scientist at AEM. "While the Southeast and Gulf Coast regions traditionally dominate our annual rankings, 2024's data indicates another way severe weather patterns are evolving in the U.S."

Data for the 2024 report was captured by AEM's Earth Networks Total Lightning Network (ENTLN), the most comprehensive global network for lightning detection. With over 1,800 sensors worldwide, the ENTLN continues to play a crucial role in understanding and anticipating environmental risks.

The 2024 U.S. Lightning Report can be found here.

About AEM

AEM is combining global technology leaders to empower communities and organizations to survive and thrive in the face of escalating environmental risks. By deploying intelligent sensing networks, operating a secure and scalable data management infrastructure, and delivering high-value analytics through a suite of end-user applications, AEM serves as the essential source for environmental insights. These technologies enable positive outcomes, helping reduce environmental impact and creating a safer world. For more information, visit https://aem.eco/.

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