We know when lightning strikes
The Xweather lightning API delivers the precise location and characteristics of every lightning strike globally. With over 40 years of lightning detection experience, no other company can match Vaisala for quality, accuracy, and coverage. Vaisala is the primary source of lightning data for the U.S. Armed Forces, National Weather Service, Federal Aviation Administration, and many international commercial organizations.
The global lightning detection leader
We detect the precise time and location of over 2 billion lightning events every year.
Precision lightning data for your application
Access lightning data the way you need it through our weather API, webhooks, raster maps, and MapsGL.
Weather API
The Xweather Lightning API is a RESTful service providing precise global lightning data for seamless integration into web, native, or mobile applications.
Webhooks
Get near real-time lightning data via webhooks. Just provide an HTTP URL, and our system will push data from any lightning endpoint to your application.
Maps
Monitor approaching storms near critical assets with our weather mapping platforms. Build applications with full weather maps or transparent tiles, compatible with Leaflet, Mapbox, and more.
Visualize lightning threats in stunning clarity
Harness our API-powered MapsGL vector mapping platform to create stunning visuals of lightning and other weather threats.
Smooth animations
Overlay our gorgeous, comprehensive animations with a map of your own critical assets to contextualize lightning data at a glance to quickly understand potential impacts.
Full customization
From colors and animations like flashes, adjust your lightning display on the go to suit your application’s needs.
Smooth animations
Overlay our gorgeous, comprehensive animations with a map of your own critical assets to contextualize lightning data at a glance to quickly understand potential impacts.
Full customization
From colors and animations like flashes, adjust your lightning display on the go to suit your application’s needs.
The industry's most robust lightning API
When you combine Vaisala Xweather proprietary networks with our advanced API features and parameters, the result is the industry's unrivaled lightning API.
Advanced geospatial capabilities
Our raster and vector lightning map layers offer flexibility and customization options for displaying lightning in real time.
Strike type filtering
Lightning that strikes the ground or structures makes up only 25% of all lightning, but accounts for nearly all damage. Use filters help you focus on what matters most to you – whether that be cloud-to-ground strikes or intracloud lightning pulses.
Strike attributes
Conduct advanced lightning event analysis – now and in the past – by querying strike peak amperage and filtering by positive or negative polarity.
Advanced search areas
Make critical safety decisions based on lightning distance by creating advanced bounding box and single or double-radius (or donut-shaped) search areas using parameters critical to your operations.
Route actions
Ensure safety on journeys of all natures, from road travel to hikes, by return lightning data for points along your route.
Forecast lightning threats
Advanced nowcasting technology tells you where the threat of lightning is heading next.
Our proprietary AI model leverages nowcasting technology to provide advanced warning for thunderstorms with each threat area mapped out up to 60 minutes in the future.
Weather API and Maps trials and pricing
The Weather API and Maps subscription provides lightning data and more through the Weather API — plus access to quick-built, high-resolution lightning visuals with Raster Maps and MapsGL and easily readable weather summaries from the Phrases API.
Get started with a free 30-day Developer Trial or purchase a Weather API and Maps subscription to integrate weather into your applications. Weather API and Maps subscriptions start at $300 monthly for 1 million accesses.