Lightning Strikes (Image courtesy of Getty Image Bank)
SEOUL, May 1 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea saw an unprecedented surge in lightning strikes last year, with the total number exceeding the 10-year average by more than 40 percent, underscoring a rise in atmospheric instability, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).
In its annual lightning report released on Tuesday, the KMA said a total of 145,784 lightning strikes were recorded over land in 2024 — a 43.8 percent increase compared to the 10-year average of 101,358 strikes between 2015 and 2024. The figure was nearly double the 73,341 strikes observed in 2023.
The agency attributed the spike to intensified atmospheric instability, which fosters the formation of cumulonimbus clouds responsible for thunderstorm activity. Lightning typically occurs when electrical charges in thunderclouds attempt to rebalance by discharging toward the ground, producing the visible flash.
As is typical, the majority of lightning activity occurred during the summer months. Between June and August 2024, 83.9 percent of strikes were recorded, with August alone accounting for 43.6 percent — or 63,537 strikes. August 5 was particularly volatile, logging 27,431 lightning events in a single day, which represented 19 percent of the annual total.
While lightning activity during July, August, and September exceeded historical norms, the spring months of April through June saw below-average counts. Notably, September’s elevated lightning frequency deviated from past seasonal patterns, the KMA noted.
Regionally, North Gyeongsang Province topped the list with 22,780 lightning strikes, followed by Gyeonggi Province (21,742) and South Gyeongsang (19,649). The city of Gwangju experienced the fewest, with just 673 strikes.
In terms of density, Daejeon had the highest number of lightning strikes per square kilometer at 2.29, followed by Gyeonggi (2.13) and Daegu (2.01).
As South Korea enters 2025, weather authorities are expected to closely monitor these trends to better prepare for extreme summer weather conditions.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
