Overview
- Preliminary AEM data show Oklahoma recorded about 73 lightning flashes per square mile in 2025, edging past historically dominant Florida for flash density.
- Kay County, Oklahoma, was the top county hotspot with roughly 123.4 flashes per square mile, according to the network’s sensor-based analysis.
- Texas logged the most total lightning, with more than 13 million flashes, as nationwide activity reached about 88.4 million, up roughly 9.8% from 2024.
- The National Lightning Safety Council reported 21 U.S. lightning fatalities in 2025, with Florida leading the nation in deaths.
- Scientists and analysts note that rankings depend on the metric used and say it is too soon to call the 2025 pattern a lasting geographic shift, with the full AEM report due later this month.