This summer has been one of extremes, with searing heat and severe thunderstorms across Europe.
Now, incredible maps reveal exactly where all 893,000 lightning strikes were recorded – with the Highlands named the lightning capital of the UK.
Lightning detection experts at Meteorage, a subsidiary of Météo–France, recorded every cloud–to–ground strike that occurred between June 1 and August 31.
Although this summer will not rank among the most electrically active seasons in recent years, it was marked by several severe thunderstorm outbreaks across Europe.
While the UK experienced a relatively low level of activity, there were still 14,400 recorded lightning strikes, the data revealed.
The Highlands in Scotland topped the list, with 1,691 flashes, followed by North Yorkshire with 1,391.
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.’
Maps reveal exactly where all 893,000 lightning strikes across Europe were recorded – with the Highlands named the lightning capital of the UK
Lightning detection experts at Meteorage, a subsidiary of Météo–France, recorded every cloud–to–ground strike that occurred between 1 June and 31 August. Pictured: A lightning strike at Chesil Beach as seen from West Bay in Dorset in June
England accounted for approximately 71 per cent of all lightning strikes recorded across the UK this summer, the data revealed, with 10,171 in total.
Scotland came next with 3,645 strikes, followed by Wales with 429 and Northern Ireland with just 156.
The Highlands experienced the biggest proportion of lightning strikes due to its rugged topography that forces warm, unstable air upward.
The highest level of lightning activity was observed on June 26, the experts revealed.
Britain’s skies were lit up by stunning displays as thunderstorms struck across the country overnight.
Astonishing photographs captured bolts striking Stonehenge in Wiltshire, Chesil Beach in Dorset, The Needles on the Isle of Wight and Fistral Beach in Cornwall.
Videos filmed in areas such as Manchester, Edinburgh and Somerset also showed extraordinary storms in the early hours – including one featuring horizontal lightning.
The Met Office confirmed more than 63,000 lightning strikes were recorded in the 24 hours to 10am that day.
A lightning storm over Stonehenge in Wiltshire early in the morning of July 26, pictured just after midnight
The highest level of lightning activity was observed on 26 June, the experts revealed. Britain’s skies were lit up by stunning displays as thunderstorms struck across the country overnight. Pictured: Spectacular lightning strikes over Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall
However, not all of these are included in Meteorage’s analysis, as many did not hit the ground.
Overall, July was particularly quiet, the experts said, accounting for just two per cent of the season’s cloud–to–ground activity.
Across Europe, Italy had the most strikes followed by France, Spain, Germany and Switzerland.
‘Electrical activity was particularly concentrated during the second half of June and throughout an exceptionally active August, when several intense thunderstorm waves affected large parts of Europe,’ Mr Royet said.
‘Summer 2026 also highlighted strong regional contrasts.
‘While Italy once again ranked among Europe’s most lightning–prone countries, Portugal and southwestern Spain experienced comparatively limited electrical activity.
‘Despite several remarkable events, Summer 2026 does not rank among the most lightning–active summers observed in recent years.
‘Nevertheless, activity levels remained significantly above those observed in Summer 2025.’
The news comes shortly after the Met Office declared that summer 2026 was the UK’s hottest on record.
The average temperature for June, July and August across day and night was provisionally 16.5C, higher than the record set last year of 16.1C and the previous 2018 high of 15.7C.
The summer was also one of the sunniest on record – evidenced by acres of parched grassland in parks and fields across the country.
It means the infamous 1976 summer and its oft-recalled heatwave is now, in fact, only the seventh most intense summer in recent memory, with the top five hottest seasons all occurring since 2003.
WHY DOES LIGHTNING STRIKE?
Lightning occurs when strong upward drafts in the air generate static electricity in large and dense rainstorm clouds.
Parts of the cloud become positively charged and others negatively charged.
When this charge separation is large enough a violent discharge of electricity happens — also known as lightning.
‘Lightning is a major hazard that claims many lives every year,’ the UN’s World Meteorological Organization says
Such a discharge starts with a small area of ionised air hot enough to conduct electricity.
This small area grows into a forked lightning channel that can reach several miles in length.
The channel has a negative tip that dispels charges to the ground and a positive tip that collects charges from the cloud.
These charges passes from the positive end of the channel to the negative end another during a lightning flash, causing the charge to be released.
