Oklahoma Is Now the Lightning Capital of the U.S.

Oklahoma just beat Florida for the most lightning flashes per square mile in the country.

Florida has dominated this ranking forever. Not anymore. Oklahoma had approximately 73 lightning flashes per square mile last year, according to a new report released on January 5 from environmental consulting firm AEM.

"Oklahoma's rise to the top of our lightning rankings represents a significant shift in 2025's weather patterns compared with past years," said Elizabeth DiGangi, a lightning scientist at AEM. New technology lets researchers "see how lightning patterns are evolving, with the Great Plains emerging as an increasingly active region for high-impact storms."

The firm used data from its lightning detection network with 1,800 sensors across the United States.

What Changed

Florida had a drier year than usual in 2025. Most Atlantic hurricanes stayed out to sea. Oklahoma meanwhile had an incredibly active year for severe weather with above-average precipitation for several months.

"Therefore, there were simply more thunderstorms producing more flashes per square mile in Oklahoma than in Florida last year," DiGangi says.

Pretty simple explanation really.

Could Be a Fluke

Nobody knows yet whether this shift sticks or if Florida reclaims its title next year.

DiGangi said 2025's warm season had neutral El Niño/La Niña conditions, "which means that there was room for other large-scale influences on weather and climate to play stronger roles on thunderstorm frequency in the U.S., up to and including anthropogenic climate change."

Data from 2026 will help figure that out. The most recent NOAA forecast said La Niña is favored to continue throughout winter before neutral conditions return.

Texas Had the Most Lightning

Oklahoma won for concentration, but Texas dominated in sheer volume. Texas recorded more than 13 million lightning flashes, exceeding its historical average by 1.3 million.

The Great Plains accounted for roughly half of the top 10 states with the most intense lightning storms. Not surprising given the region's reputation for severe weather.

Florida Led in Deaths

Florida led the nation in lightning fatalities again in 2025 with four deaths, according to John Jensenius of the National Lightning Safety Council.

There were twenty-one known lightning fatalities total in the United States and its territories during 2025. This was the greatest yearly total since 2019, slightly above the 10-year average of 20.

Fatalities occurred in 12 states and one U.S. territory. North Carolina, Oklahoma, Georgia, New Jersey and Colorado each had two.

Other Findings

Kay County, Oklahoma, led the nation with 123.4 flashes per square mile. June 15 was the most lightning-intense day with 929,016 flashes nationwide.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport dealt with more than 10,000 lightning flashes. Eight of the 10 busiest U.S. airports experienced their peak lightning day during summer travel season.

Chicago's Millennium Park got exposed to more than 11,000 lightning flashes, more than any other top-visited U.S. landmark. Half of the nation's most-visited landmarks experienced peak lightning between June and August when visitor traffic is highest.

The Bottom Line

Oklahoma had more storms and more rain than usual in 2025. Florida had less. That was enough to flip the rankings after years of Florida holding the top spot.

Whether this sticks or reverses next year depends on weather patterns. Climate scientists will watch 2026 data to see if the Great Plains keeps ramping up lightning activity or if this was just a weird year.

Texas still had the most total flashes. Oklahoma just packed more into each square mile, which is how concentration gets measured. Florida still led where it matters most—deaths. Four people died from lightning strikes there, most of any state.

Anyone who lives in the Great Plains already knows the region gets hammered by severe weather every spring and summer. This lightning data just puts numbers to what they experience firsthand.

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