Weak MAY month thunderstorms (2026)

The month of May in Sweden, is traditionally not a strong thunderstorm month. Nevertheless, May 2026 is among the weakest i have seen. Yesterday was the "peak" of the month so far, with - wooah - 256 lightning strikes !

Not exactly much at all, to be precise. *LOL*

"Fia med Knuff"

When it comes to Stockholm - May is usually very, very poor month in terms of thunderstorms / lightning strikes. Most of the lightning happens either on the West Coast of Sweden, or inland in Southern/Middle Sweden. Once the T-storm cells pull to the east towards Stockholm... they loose all their power. It is like playing the game "Ludo" - where you opponent gets thrown out; go back home.

Lightning strikes over Sweden
Peak days of May

22 May 2012, we had 2322 lightning strikes.
21 May 2013, we had 2175 lightning strikes. • (rather active with thunderstorms on many days)
24 May 2014, we had 18016 lightning strikes !! • (very active, especially in the 2nd half)

12 May 2015, very poor with just 336 lightning strikes • (relatively many days, but not many strikes)
31 May 2016, we had 4509 lightning strikes. • (in the last week relatively heightened activity)
28 May 2017, we had 793 lightning strikes. • (only few amount of days with thunderstorms)

11 May 2018, we had 2217 lightning strikes • (lively week with thunderstorms)
22 May 2019, we had 5890 lightning strikes • (lively May activity)
23 May 2020, we had 1032 lightning strikes. • (a poor month, with few days activity)

13 May 2021, we had 4149 lightning strikes • (lively May activity over Sweden)
31 May 2022, we had 320 lightning strikes • (very poor most of the month)
23 May 2023, we had 909 lightning strikes • (very poor most of the month)

27 May 2024, we had 14191 lightning strikes • (very powerful & active during the last week of May)
13 May 2025, we had 174 lightning strikes • (poor month)
26 May 2026, we had 256 lightning strikes • (poor month)

So, there you have it.

Epilogue

The amounts of lightning strikes registered on a single day isn't (from what I understand) any indicator of how lively or poor thunderstorm activity has been over the whole month (e.g How many days thunderstorms occurred, I mean).

In general, towards the end of May, bordering the first summer month of June, the thunderstorm activity usually starts to increase, as warmer air masses come to our lands - and/or, because of intense solar radiation inland, warming up the lower layers strongly, creating large temperature differences in the atmosphere, leading to afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

However, during some years, the air is too cold over Scandinavia to generate thunderstorms, turning out poor. Well, that by the way is a matter of perspective. Those with houses in the urban landscape, rather prefer gentle weather over storm and lightning strikes on their property (i would guess).

I love thunderstorms

Yet along the road of time - I have more respect for them - and enjoy them rather from a certain distance. Not dancing under a thunderstorm anymore *LOL*

Perhaps the most interesting aspects of Thunderstorm activity are THE CLOUDS. They usually come out dramatic and vibrant in shape and the way dark and light meet in the sky. The play of light between the majestic clouds, can sometimes make your jaw drop. While not as dramatic like in continental US - but still exciting enough here in Scandinavia, to make beautiful cloud images.

What about lightning at night in Stockholm ?

Since Night thunderstorms are relatively rare in Stockholm - i rarely make any images of lightning strikes. Plus that i work night shift - so the change to get some lightning into the camera, is very small. I think at my balcony I've only captured them at 3-4 occasions during the last 15 years. No, apparently a little bit more often - especially if i count movies in.

Here below however are those I made with the camera.

• Unexpected Thunderstorm activity along the road • 30 Aug 2024

• Thunderstorms at night but without capturing any lightning strikes • 7 Aug 2023

• Finally some more direct images, from my balcony • 29 Jun 2020

• Thunderstorms Stockholm - from my balcony • 9 Aug 2018

• Thunderstorms Stockholm - from my balcony • 11 June 2018

Sicily is a totally different game.

There, I captured many more, and more often when I visited the island. There you can see them from a longer distance. Well, wait... that was because Sal lived 3 years in Upper Nicolosi, right next to the Monte Rossi craters - at 850 meter - with a wide outlook over the lands. That favored thunderstorm photography from the upper level of the house.

Still - in general, my lightning strike images are not well developed, simply because I rarely get the chance... Perhaps when I am 73 living in Sicily one day ... I might develop better night time lightning photos *LOL*

But that more than a decade to go.

Stromboli Volcano island by the way - was a perfect spot for working with thunderstorms at night, together with Daniel. That was September 2009, and the activity was frequent, albeit we were only there for i think 5 days.

While when i went there one year later - but during the latter part of September 2010 - we got nothing. No lightning, despite being there a lot longer time - whole 2 weeks.

• Thunderstorms over the Sea seen from Nicolosi - Catania, Sicily • Jan 2019 ?

• Thunderstorms at the harbor of Catania (no tripod) • 2016