Current Lightning API

Nearest and most recent lightning observations for a requested location.

API Guide

Current Lightning API

Nearest and most recent lightning observations for a requested location.

This API returns the nearest location, and time of lightning observations from a given point. Lightning data is derived from lightning sensors on board geostationary satellites, as well as weather radar in regions without sensor coverage.

Lightning sensor data is available from 180 West (-180) to 80 East (+80) longitude - covering North/South America, Europe, Africa, and eastern Asia. Sensor data is updated once every 5 minutes. Radar based lightning estimates are available from 80 East (+80) to 180 East (+180) longitude - covering western Asia including China, India, Japan, Australia, and other countries in this area. Radar estimates are updated every 15 minutes.

*NOTE: Usage of this API consumes 10 requests against your account quotas per actual API request. It can return data up to 45 minutes back. For historical lightning beyond this, please use the Historical Lightning API.

Request Parameters

Field Optional/Required Type Data Type Description
lat Required query number Latitude component of location.
lon Required query number Longitude component of location.
limit Optional query integer Limit result lightning. (Default 20)
skip Optional query integer Number of results to skip in response. (Offset)
search_distance_km Optional query integer Radial search distance from point in KM. (Default 20 KM - Max 75 KM)
search_mins Optional query integer Search time backwards from current time in minutes. (Default 30 minutes - Max 45 minutes)
sort Optional query string Sort results by either most recent occurrence, or least distance from point. (Default distance) Options: distance, time
output_type Optional query string Data type of reponse JSON or GeoJSON. Default JSON. Options: json, geojson
key Required query string Your registered API key.

Example Request

Geolocation options: lat/lon (recommended)

Enter API key

lat/lon (recommended)

https://api.weatherbit.io/v2.0/current/lightning?search_distance_km=100&search_mins=15&limit=20&sort=distance&key=API_KEY&lat=35.7796&lon=-78.6382
curl -s "https://api.weatherbit.io/v2.0/current/lightning?search_distance_km=100&search_mins=15&limit=20&sort=distance&key=API_KEY&lat=35.7796&lon=-78.6382"
require 'uri'
require 'net/http'
require 'json'

uri = URI("https://api.weatherbit.io/v2.0/current/lightning?search_distance_km=100&search_mins=15&limit=20&sort=distance&key=API_KEY&lat=35.7796&lon=-78.6382")
http = Net::HTTP.new(uri.host, uri.port)
http.use_ssl = (uri.scheme == "https")
request = Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri)
response = http.request(request)
json = JSON.parse(response.body)
puts JSON.pretty_generate(json)
const https = require("https");

https.get("https://api.weatherbit.io/v2.0/current/lightning?search_distance_km=100&search_mins=15&limit=20&sort=distance&key=API_KEY&lat=35.7796&lon=-78.6382", (res) => {
  let raw = "";
  res.on("data", (chunk) => { raw += chunk; });
  res.on("end", () => {
    const json = JSON.parse(raw);
    console.log(JSON.stringify(json, null, 2));
  });
}).on("error", (err) => {
  console.error(err.message);
});
Estimated quota: 1 requeststandard

Example Response HTTP 200

{
  "count": 249,
  "date": "2024-08-22",
  "lat": 28.5384,
  "lightning": [
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "ENE",
      "bearing_degrees": 56,
      "distance_km": 11.99,
      "distance_mi": 7.45,
      "id": 57938,
      "lat": 28.603,
      "lon": -81.281,
      "past_mins": 10.6,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:36:57",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:36:57",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "NNW",
      "bearing_degrees": 346,
      "distance_km": 15.6,
      "distance_mi": 9.69,
      "id": 55145,
      "lat": 28.676,
      "lon": -81.414,
      "past_mins": 14.3,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:33:15",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:33:15",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "NE",
      "bearing_degrees": 45,
      "distance_km": 15.6,
      "distance_mi": 9.7,
      "id": 55591,
      "lat": 28.645,
      "lon": -81.274,
      "past_mins": 13.7,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:33:51",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:33:51",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "NE",
      "bearing_degrees": 46,
      "distance_km": 16.12,
      "distance_mi": 10.02,
      "id": 58183,
      "lat": 28.646,
      "lon": -81.268,
      "past_mins": 10.3,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:37:18",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:37:18",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "NE",
      "bearing_degrees": 35,
      "distance_km": 16.32,
      "distance_mi": 10.14,
      "id": 56657,
      "lat": 28.664,
      "lon": -81.292,
      "past_mins": 12.4,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:35:12",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:35:12",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "NE",
      "bearing_degrees": 42,
      "distance_km": 17.59,
      "distance_mi": 10.93,
      "id": 54649,
      "lat": 28.663,
      "lon": -81.268,
      "past_mins": 15,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:32:35",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:32:35",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "NE",
      "bearing_degrees": 42,
      "distance_km": 17.98,
      "distance_mi": 11.17,
      "id": 30325,
      "lat": 28.665,
      "lon": -81.264,
      "past_mins": 12.4,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:35:12",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:35:12",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "ENE",
      "bearing_degrees": 59,
      "distance_km": 18.43,
      "distance_mi": 11.45,
      "id": 32539,
      "lat": 28.631,
      "lon": -81.223,
      "past_mins": 10.3,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:37:18",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:37:18",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "NE",
      "bearing_degrees": 47,
      "distance_km": 18.69,
      "distance_mi": 11.61,
      "id": 27389,
      "lat": 28.661,
      "lon": -81.247,
      "past_mins": 15,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:32:35",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:32:35",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "N",
      "bearing_degrees": 359,
      "distance_km": 18.78,
      "distance_mi": 11.67,
      "id": 57088,
      "lat": 28.708,
      "lon": -81.381,
      "past_mins": 11.7,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:35:50",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:35:50",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "NE",
      "bearing_degrees": 44,
      "distance_km": 18.92,
      "distance_mi": 11.76,
      "id": 27996,
      "lat": 28.669,
      "lon": -81.254,
      "past_mins": 14.4,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:33:09",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:33:09",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "NE",
      "bearing_degrees": 50,
      "distance_km": 19.11,
      "distance_mi": 11.88,
      "id": 28794,
      "lat": 28.656,
      "lon": -81.237,
      "past_mins": 13.7,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:33:51",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:33:51",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "NE",
      "bearing_degrees": 45,
      "distance_km": 19.24,
      "distance_mi": 11.96,
      "id": 62704,
      "lat": 28.669,
      "lon": -81.249,
      "past_mins": 4.4,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:43:11",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:43:11",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "NE",
      "bearing_degrees": 42,
      "distance_km": 19.3,
      "distance_mi": 11.99,
      "id": 61451,
      "lat": 28.675,
      "lon": -81.256,
      "past_mins": 6,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:41:36",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:41:36",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "NE",
      "bearing_degrees": 42,
      "distance_km": 19.39,
      "distance_mi": 12.05,
      "id": 57702,
      "lat": 28.675,
      "lon": -81.255,
      "past_mins": 10.9,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:36:39",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:36:39",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "NE",
      "bearing_degrees": 43,
      "distance_km": 19.42,
      "distance_mi": 12.07,
      "id": 58838,
      "lat": 28.674,
      "lon": -81.254,
      "past_mins": 9.4,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:38:08",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:38:08",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "NE",
      "bearing_degrees": 51,
      "distance_km": 19.44,
      "distance_mi": 12.08,
      "id": 31841,
      "lat": 28.656,
      "lon": -81.232,
      "past_mins": 10.9,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:36:39",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:36:39",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "NE",
      "bearing_degrees": 43,
      "distance_km": 19.51,
      "distance_mi": 12.12,
      "id": 60646,
      "lat": 28.674,
      "lon": -81.252,
      "past_mins": 7,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:40:35",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:40:35",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "NE",
      "bearing_degrees": 54,
      "distance_km": 20.18,
      "distance_mi": 12.54,
      "id": 33503,
      "lat": 28.654,
      "lon": -81.219,
      "past_mins": 9.4,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:38:08",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:38:08",
      "type": "flash"
    },
    {
      "bearing_cardinal": "NNW",
      "bearing_degrees": 348,
      "distance_km": 20.66,
      "distance_mi": 12.84,
      "id": 30998,
      "lat": 28.722,
      "lon": -81.418,
      "past_mins": 11.7,
      "source": "glm",
      "timestamp_local": "2024-08-22T16:35:50",
      "timestamp_utc": "2024-08-22T20:35:50",
      "type": "flash"
    }
  ],
  "limit": 20,
  "lon": -81.3789,
  "search_distance_km": 100,
  "search_mins": 15,
  "skip": 0,
  "sort": "distance",
  "timezone": "America/New_York"
}

Additional observation-filled examples: Lightning can be sparse, so these reference responses show populated observation payloads.

Example Response (JSON): [Download]

Example Response (GeoJSON): [Download]

HTTP Statuses

Code Description Example
200 Lightning data. -
204 No Data Found -
400 Client Error 
{
  "error": "Some relevant message"
}
403 Unauthorized/No Access for current plan level 
{
  "error": "Some relevant message"
}
429 Daily or Velocity limit exceeded See rate limit guidance. 
{
  "error": "Rate limit exceeded.",
  "status_code": 429,
  "status_message": "Rate limit exceeded. Try again later."
}
500 Internal Server Error 
{
  "error": "Server Error"
}

Return Fields

Field Data Type Description
count integer Total count of lightning events.
date string Valid date of data in response (YYYY-MM-DD).
limit integer Count of results in response (determined by limit parameter).
lat number Latitude of point.
lon number Longitude of point.
search_distance_km integer Distance searched for lightning (radially) in KM.
search_mins ['number', 'null'] Time backwards from current time searched for lightning.
skip integer Number of results that were skipped in response (same as offset).
sort string Ascending sort key of data (time or distance).
timezone string Timezone of valid date.
lightning array<LightningObs>
lightning[].lat number Latitude of lightning event
lightning[].lon number Longitude of lightning event
lightning[].bearing_cardinal string Cardinal direction of lightning event relative to point
lightning[].bearing_degrees integer Direction of lightning event relative to point in degrees
lightning[].distance_km number Distance of lightning event from point in kilometers
lightning[].distance_mi number Distance of lightning event from point in miles
lightning[].id integer Internal identifier of lightning event
lightning[].timestamp_utc string Timestamp of lightning event at UTC timezone (YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS)
lightning[].timestamp_local string Timestamp of lightning event at local timezone (YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS)
lightning[].past_mins number Amount of time passed since lightning event (in minutes)
lightning[].type string Type of lightning data
lightning[].source string Source of lightning data
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