Andorra Records Highest Lightning Strikes Since 1989
Over 900 cloud-to-ground strikes hit Andorra in summer 2025, peaking at 237 in three days amid Pyrenees thunderstorms, bucking Europe's downward trend.
Key Points
- Over 900 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes detected in Andorra summer 2025.
- Peak of 237 discharges from June 22-24, nearly a third of annual total.
- Triggered by cold drop over Portugal and high instability in Pyrenees.
- Unusually active year despite reduced activity across Europe since 1989.
Andorra has recorded one of the highest numbers of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes since 1989, with more than 900 detected during the summer months of 2025.
Data from the Meteorage sensor network shows that the peak activity occurred over just three days, from 22 to 24 June, when 237 discharges were logged—nearly a third of the year's total. This intense episode aligned with a cold drop positioned over Portugal, combined with high atmospheric instability that spurred thunderstorm development across the Pyrenees.
The figure marks an unusually active year for the principality, bucking a broader European trend of reduced lightning activity in 2025 compared to records dating back to 1989. Andorra stood out as an exception, reflecting the heightened storm patterns typical of mountainous regions.
Meteorological monitoring highlights how such localised peaks can drive annual totals, even amid quieter continental conditions. No specific impacts from the strikes, such as fires or infrastructure damage, were detailed in the data release.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: