Lightning and thunderstorms
Spain 2024 review
Read our weather, climate and electrical analysis of thunderstorms in Spain in 2024.
2024 at a glance
With almost 515,000 CG cloud-to-ground lightning strikes detected, Spain ranks third in the list of years with the most lightning strikes, behind 2018 (684,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes) and 2023 (617,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes).
August dominates, accounting for a quarter of the year’s activity, with more than 137 000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes detected.
June and October are also notable for their high electrical activity, with more than 100,000 CG lightning strikes detected.
In contrast, July, under the influence of high pressure, was more stable, with less than 37,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes recorded.
The year 2024 was punctuated by frequent worsening storms, sometimes accompanied by intense weather events.
The autumn was characterised by great instability, with September and October being particularly stormy. Cold drops, always present on the Iberian Peninsula, played a key role, especially at the end of October, when one of them triggered a destructive storm that affected much of the south and east of the country.
Joris Royet, Meteorological Project Manager, METEORAGE.
Our European Lightning Detection Network (ELDN) detected in Spain, in 2024
Key facts
The day most struck by lightning
29 october 2024
The month most struck by lightning
August 2024
The Municipality most struck by lightning
Moratalla (Murcia)
Focus on
Destructive and deadly late October thunderstorm, Valencia DANA
by Joris Royet, Meteorological Project Manager, METEORAGE.
The episode began around 25 October with the approach of a trough (low pressure branch) over Western Europe, which generated strong instability. This branch separated from the main flow to form a cold drop – nicknamed ‘DANA’ (Isolated High Level Depression). Stalled for several days near the Strait of Gibraltar, it triggered surges of rain and storms that caused widespread flooding in eastern Spain ahead of the system.
On the afternoon of 29 October, the storm reached its peak with a stationary storm over the autonomous community of Valencia and surrounding areas. Exceptional rainfall fell in record time, with up to 490.6 mm in 24 hours at the Chiva station, including 343 mm in the space of 4 hours.
The satellite detected a MCC (Mesoscale Convective Complex) accompanied by a V-shaped storm characterised by a fixed power point. The electrical activity was equally impressive, with over 100,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes detected during this episode.
This made 29 October the stormiest day of the year in Spain.
Aggravating factors
The intensity of this episode has been amplified by several factors:
- Still warm Mediterranean waters;
- The geographical configuration of the autonomous community;
- A high precipitable water content;
- The dry conditions of the ground before the arrival of the storms.
Although a V-shaped storm is violent by nature, these factors exacerbate its intensity, highlighting the impact of global warming on this type of phenomena.
Read our full analysis, Analysis of the Spanish rainy season from 25 October to 4 November 2024, on our blog: Thunderstorm episode in Spain – METEORAGE
Visualisation of lightning strikes during the thunderstorm of 29 October 2024
Visualisation of lightning strikes during the thunderstorm of 29 October 2024 in the autonomous community of Valencia using our Observation solution (copyright METEORAGE).
Lightning strikes in Spain in 2024
For 2024, the lightning density for Spain is 1.0115 cloud-to-ground lightning flashes per km².
Seasonality of thunderstorms
Seasonal distribution of cloud-to-ground lightning flashes
The frequency, geographical distribution and intensity of storms vary with the seasons, depending on temperature, humidity and atmospheric dynamics.
In spring, thermal contrasts between cold and warm air set in and favour the first convective storms, often accompanied by heavy rain and sometimes hail or tornadoes, with electrical activity that increases as the season progresses.
In summer, they are more frequent and violent, fuelled by high temperatures and strong contrasts in the passage of cold droplets, generating storms, sometimes supercell storms, hence a peak of activity during this season.
In autumn, thunderstorm activity progressively decreases, but low temperatures can continue to produce storms linked to transitions between air masses, especially near waters that are still relatively warm.
In winter, although less frequent, thunderstorms may occur, often near the oceans or in regions where cold fronts meet warmer and more humid air.
Top 10 Autonomous Communities with the highest rate of lightning strikes
by number of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes
by lightning density of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes per km²/year
| 01. Valenciana | 2.10 |
| 02. Aragón | 1.90 |
| 03. La Rioja | 1.68 |
| 04. Catalunya | 1.42 |
| 05. Murcia | 1.41 |
| 06. Castilla-La Mancha | 1.37 |
| 07. Islas Baleares | 1.35 |
| 08. Navarra | 1.30 |
| 09. PaÃs Vasco | 0.96 |
| 10. Castilla y León | 0.86 |
Top 10 Provinces with the highest rate of lightning strikes
by number of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes
by lightning density of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes per km²/year
| 01. Valencia | 2.99 |
| 02. Teruel | 2.05 |
| 03. Huesca | 2.05 |
| 04. Albacete | 2.02 |
| 05. Guadalajara | 1.95 |
| 06. Castellón | 1.81 |
| 07. Girona | 1.72 |
| 08. La Rioja | 1.68 |
| 09. Barcelona | 1.65 |
| 10. Zaragoza | 1.64 |
Top 10 Municipalities with the highest lightning strike rate
by number of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes
by lightning density of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes per km²/year
| 01. Picassent | 10.38 |
| 02. Montserrat | 10.14 |
| 03. Torrent | 9.42 |
| 04. Villar del Arzobispo | 8.85 |
| 05. Alborache | 8.34 |
| 06. Chiva | 8.20 |
| 07. Ferreruela de Huerva | 8.04 |
| 08. Chulilla | 7.88 |
| 09. Gestalgar | 7v85 |
| 10. Real de Montroi | 7.59 |
The lightning strike on Spain in recent years
Since 2007, when our records began, the cloud-to-ground lightning density in Spain is 0.3189 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes/km² per year.
The average number of thunder days is 117 per year.
Over the last 3 years
Monthly distribution of lightning strikes
Number of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes detected each month.
Over the last 10 years
Annual distribution of lightning strikes
Number of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes detected each year.
Annual distribution of thunder days
Number of thunder days detected annually.
Terminology
To help you better understand the information in this report, here are the definitions for some of the most frequently used terms.
Cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flash
Discharge of current of a certain intensity circulating between the cloud and the ground. Abbreviated to CG (Cloud-to-Ground).
Lightning density
The best current representation of thunderstorm activity is lightning density, which is the number of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes per km² per year.
Lightning flash
All current discharges and electrical impulses from a lightning event. A lightning flash can occur within the same cloud (IC), between a cloud and the ground (CG) or between two clouds (CC). A lightning flash can be composed of one stroke or many strokes, which are current discharges and electrical impulses.
Thunder day
Each day that lightning was detected in a given area.
About this lightning report
The lightning report is based on data provided by METEORAGE’s lightning detection network (ELDN) in Europe.
The information we provide concerns cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes and lightning density.
To be able to compare these data with the data collected, METEORAGE counts the main current pulse circulating between the cloud and the ground, defined in this report by the term “Cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flash”.
Our expertise draws on more than ten years of analysis, observation and data collected in Europe, and more broadly worldwide. We have over 37 years’ expertise in France.
The performance of our network has been validated scientifically and delivers the best possible results with:
- > 98% lightning flash detection,
- a median detection accuracy of 100 meters,
- > 90% distinction made between cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flashes and intra-cloud lightning flashes.
The METEORAGE network consists of more than 100 lightning sensors, calculators and a processing system that manages the databases. Our lightning sensors are based on the Vaisala technology, currently considered one of the best in the world. Our network achieves levels of performance validated by numerous scientific studies and publications.
This 2024 report is based on the most comprehensive source of information in Spain. The data, densities, rankings and thunder days in this report are dated from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024.Â
