2025 Sees Record Low Lightning Strikes in Bavaria, Across Europe
Table of Contents
A dramatic drop in lightning activity was recorded across Bavaria and much of Europe in 2025, with the region experiencing its lowest number of strikes in nearly two decades of data collection.
Bavaria registered a mere 30,096 ground lightning strikes throughout 2025, according to data from the Aldis/Blids information service. This represents a significant decrease – just over half – compared to the 56,664 impacts registered in the previous year by a sensor network operated by experts in Austria.
The exceptionally low number of strikes is unprecedented in Aldis/Blids’ records dating back to 2005. The closest comparison is 2022, which saw 40,295 strikes. While data from 2021 and earlier may be subject to overestimation, those years still recorded significantly higher values, ranging from 45,000 to over 150,000 lightning strikes.
The Role of Dry Conditions
Experts attribute the dramatic decline primarily to unusually dry conditions throughout much of the year. “For thunderstorms, you need moist and energetic air masses,” explains a meteorologist from the German Weather Service (DWD), “as well as large temperature differences between above and below and an uplift impulse that ensures that the air comes up from the ground.” Without sufficient moisture, the essential ingredients for thunderstorm formation are simply absent.
These “uplift impulses” can take various forms, including mountain ranges, localized heating of the ground, or even atmospheric disturbances. The meteorologist further explained that thunderstorms frequently initiate around midday in mountainous regions and then spread to surrounding areas depending on prevailing conditions.
Bavaria’s Historical Lightning Hotspot Status
It’s not surprising that areas bordering the Alps have historically experienced high lightning densities. This, combined with the size of the state, has consistently placed Bavaria at the top of Germany’s lightning statistics for at least two decades. Baden-Württemberg followed in second place with 14,813 strikes, while North Rhine-Westphalia recorded 11,057.
The peak of lightning activity in 2025 occurred in June, with 10,739 strikes, followed by August (5,995) and July (5,753). In stark contrast, December saw no recorded lightning strikes. The two busiest days were August 16th (3,294 strikes) and June 23rd (3,272 strikes).
A Pan-European Trend
The unusual lack of lightning wasn’t limited to Bavaria. Comparatively low strike numbers were also observed throughout Germany, as well as in Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and France.
Counting Lightning: A Matter of Methodology
It’s important to note that lightning statistics can vary depending on the methodology used. The Aldis/Blids data focuses solely on ground strikes – actual impacts – and counts each lightning bolt only once. Other systems may also register cloud discharges and count multiple discharges within a single channel as separate strikes, leading to higher totals. As one analyst noted, what appears to observers as “lightning flickering” can be interpreted differently by various counting systems.
The data underscores the complex interplay of atmospheric conditions and the critical role of moisture in generating lightning activity. The record low numbers in 2025 serve as a stark reminder of the impact of changing weather patterns on even the most dramatic natural phenomena.
