The UK recorded 14,400 cloud-to-ground lightning flashes this summer, with a small number of intense storm events accounting for the bulk of activity.
The new data is from Meteorage, lightning detection specialist, who analysed thunderstorm activity across the UK and Europe this summer.
They found that while the UK experienced relatively modest levels of lightning compared with some of Europe’s most affected countries, the storms involved extreme weather – posing risks to critical infrastructure and energy networks.
June was by far the UK’s most electrically active month, recording 10,437 lightning flashes, which contributed to around 72% of the summer total. By comparison, July saw just 331 flashes.
North of the UK seemed to be most affected, with Scotland’s highlands recording the highest number of flashes for a county (1,961), followed by North Yorkshire (1,391).
Across Europe, Meteorage recorded 893,458 cloud-to-ground lightning flashes during the summer. The UK ranked eighth among European countries, with Italy, France and Spain recording substantially higher levels of activity.
Joris Royet, Weather Project Manager at Meteorage, said: “The meteorological summer of 2026 was marked by several severe thunderstorm outbreaks across Europe. Multiple weather patterns favoured the development of supercells capable of producing large hail, destructive wind gusts and locally even tornadoes.”
With lightning capable of causing outages, damaging equipment and disrupting critical infrastructure, the findings highlight the continued exposure of energy networks to increasingly localised and severe weather events.
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