Tampa Bay Reports Sharp Rise in Lightning Activity This Summer
Tampa Bay experienced a significant increase in lightning activity this summer, with September recording more than double the average number of strikes. Data shows Florida ranked second-highest in cloud-to-ground lightning strikes over the last decade, up 28% from the previous…
Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, October 27, 2026 —
Lightning activity increased significantly in Tampa Bay this summer, and September recorded more than double the average number of strikes, according to the trend summary. The available information does not specify the strike count, the period used to calculate the average, or the exact dates covered by the seasonal comparison.
Florida ranked second-highest in cloud-to-ground lightning strikes over the last decade, with the number up 28% from the previous year, the summary said. It did not provide the underlying dataset, the annual totals, or the name of the organization that compiled the figures.
Experts cited warmer temperatures and favorable atmospheric conditions as factors that may have contributed to the increase. Those conditions were described as amplified by an ongoing El Niño. The experts were not identified, and no further explanation of the atmospheric conditions or the extent of El Niño’s role was provided.
The summary also said Florida led the nation in lightning-related fatalities. It did not give a fatality count, identify the period covered by that comparison, or provide details about individual incidents. The reported ranking therefore offers no additional information about how the number of fatalities changed over time.
The figures point to elevated lightning activity across the state alongside the reported increase in Tampa Bay. However, the information available does not include month-by-month strike totals, a comparison with other regions, or details that would clarify how the seasonal pattern developed. No specific forecast or account of what may happen next was provided.
Story summarized from the original created by By Michaela Mulligan, Times staff on www.tampabay.com, see more information here.
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