The Sunshine State is once again the lightning capital of the United States, with Central Florida in the heart of the action.
Vaisala, the company that owns the National Lightning Data Network, has issued its report on lightning strikes in 2022, and Florida has once again retained its title as lightning capital of the United States when it comes to strikes per square mile.
The report tallies cloud-to-cloud, and cloud-to-ground lightning strikes across the nation, using their National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN), using their Global Lightning Detection Network (GLD360). Both instruments can detect lightning strikes 24/7, every day of the year.
While Texas was once again the state with the most lightning strikes due to its large size and prime geographic location for frequent, severe thunderstorms, Florida still comes out on top as the lightning capital of the US for density of lightning strikes.
When Lightning is tracked by density, Florida becomes the clear winner with 285 lightning strikes per square mile in 2022.
Louisiana came in second at 221 strikes per square mile, with Mississippi in third place at 206 strikes.
The actual location in Florida that is crowned lightning capital of the United State is Four Corners right here in Central Florida.
Four Corners is only 10-15 minutes west of Walt Disney World, located near the borders of Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Polk counties.
Four Corners had the greatest lightning density in the country in 2022, registering over 1,200 lightning strikes per square mile!
