Map of Canada’s lightning hotspots
Ever wonder which areas of the country receive the most lightning? This section provides you with some informative maps that depict the lightning “hot spots” in Canada.
Western Canada
The interior of British Columbia, despite having a long lightning season, has relatively low lightning density. East of the Rocky Mountain continental divide, a pronounced area of higher lightning activity occurs over the Rocky Mountain Foothills and the Swan Hills of Alberta. Southern Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba have an area of relatively high lightning activity, which appears to be an extension of the active Great Plains area of the United States.
The average lightning flash density (flashes per square kilometre, per year) in Western Canada (1999 to 2018)
The average lightning flash density (flashes per square kilometre, per year) in Western Canada (1999 to 2018). Detailed table.
| Area in Province or Territory | Average flash density per square kilometre, per year | Colour Representation |
| British Columbia - offshore west of Haida Gwaii | **see note below | White |
| British Columbia - North and South Coast and Northern BC | 0.1 | Dark Blue |
| British Columbia - Central interior | 0.25 | Blue |
| British Columbia - Peace region - small areas | 0.5 | Light Blue |
| British Columbia - Southeast - small areas | 0.5 | Light Blue |
| Yukon | 0.1 | Dark Blue |
| Northwest Territories - South | 0.25 | Blue |
| Northwest Territories - South - small areas | 0.5 | Light Blue |
| Northwest Territories - Northeast | 0.1 | Dark Blue |
| Nunavut | 0.1 | Dark Blue |
| Nunavut - far north | **see note below | White |
| Alberta | 0.5 | Light Blue |
| Alberta - Central - areas east of the Rockies | 0.75 | Cyan |
| Alberta - small areas in a line from Calgary to Edson | 1.2 | Yellow |
| Saskatchewan - South - small areas | 0.8 | Light green |
| Saskatchewan - Southeast - small areas | 1.2 | Yellow |
| Saskatchewan - Central - small areas | 0.5 | Light blue |
| Saskatchewan - Northeast | 0.25 | Blue |
| Manitoba - South | 0.75 | Cyan |
| Manitoba - Southwest | 1.2 | Yellow |
| Manitoba - Southwest - small regions | 1.6 | Red |
| Manitoba - North | 0.25 | Blue |
| Ontario - West | 0.25 | Blue |
| Ontario - Southwest - along the US border | 0.75 | Cyan |
** There are very few lightning strikes detected off the west coast of Canada as well as the far North.
Eastern Canada
Even though the east coast has a long lightning season, it has low lightning activity. The Richelieu Valley in Quebec has slightly higher lightning activity than the rest of Quebec. Southern Ontario sees some of the highest activity of all of Canada.
The average lightning flash density (flashes per square kilometre, per year) in Eastern Canada (1999 to 2018)
The average lightning flash density (flashes per square kilometre, per year) in Eastern Canada (1999 to 2018). Detailed table.
| Area in Province or Territory | Average flash density per square kilometre, per year | Colour Representation |
| Ontario - West, North and Central | 0.5 | Blue |
| Ontario - northern shores of Lake Superior | 0.1 | Dark blue |
| Ontario - South | 1.1 | Cyan |
| Ontario - Southwest - between the Great Lakes | 2.1 | Red |
| Ontario - Southwest - between the Great Lakes - small areas | 3.0+ | Dark red |
| Quebec | 0.5 | Blue |
| Quebec - South - small areas on the South Shore | 1.1 | Cyan |
| Quebec - North and East | 0.1 | Dark blue |
| New Brunswick | 0.5 | Blue |
| Prince Edward Island | 0.1 | Dark blue |
| Nova Scotia | 0.1 | Dark blue |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 0.1 | Dark blue |
| Labrador - Northeast and offshore | **see note below | White |
** There are very few lightning strikes detected off the northeast coast of Labrador as well as the far North.
Southern Ontario
Southwestern Ontario sees some of the highest lightning flash densities in the country. This region is located in a lake-breeze convergence zone, where a lake air mass meets a land air mass, between Lakes Huron and Erie. The lightning flash density here is similar to the average lightning flash densities over central Florida. Another hot spot is located along a line from the southern tip of Georgian Bay to southeast of Barrie. These two areas can be seen where the darkest red colours are on the following map, which shows the greatest single-year lightning flash density for the years of 1999-2018.
Greatest single-year lightning flash density (flashes per square kilometre, per year) in southern Ontario (1999 to 2018)
Greatest single-year lightning flash density (flashes per square kilometre, per year) in southern Ontario (1999 to 2018). Detailed table.
| Area in Province or Territory | Average flash density per square kilometre, per year |
Colour Representation |
|---|---|---|
| Windsor to Kitchener | 5.5 | Orange-red |
| Windsor to Kitchener - small areas | 8 | Red |
| In a line from Kettle Point to Port Stanley | 10+ | Dark red |
| Norfolk County | 3.5 | Yellow-orange |
| Niagra Region | 2.5 | Green-yellow |
| City of Toronto | 5 | Orange |
| In a line from Kincardine to Brampton and North | 3.3 | Yellow |
| Georgian Bay - South - small areas | 6 | Red |
| Simco County | 1.5 | Cyan |
| In a line from Lake Simcoe to Belleville | 2.5 | Green-yellow |
| In a line from Lake Simcoe to Belleville - small areas | 5 | Orange |
| In a line from Lake Simcoe to Belleville - North | 2 | Light green |
| In a line from Lake Simcoe to Belleville - North - small areas | 3.3 | Yellow |
| Lake Huron - along the northern edge of the lake | 1.5 | Cyan |
| Lake Huron - along the northern edge of the lake and North | 0.75 | Blue |
| Lake Huron - along the northern edge of the lake and North - small areas | 3.3 | Yellow |
| Near Gananoque | 0.75 | Blue |
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