Best Lightning Detectors In 2022

As our Best Choice lightning detector, we’ve selected the AcuRite 02020 Portable Lightning Detector. This choice might come as a surprise to some people because it has mixed reviews and is not the most accurate device on this list. But hear us out. We figured that a lot of people reading this review are looking for a small, portable device that can tell them when a thunderstorm is coming in. They don’t need to know exactly how far out it is, which direction it’s coming in, and how powerful it is. They just need to know to seek shelter. If that sounds like you, keep reading. If you’re looking for an advanced lightning detector, move onto the next product.

This portable device is designed to take with you on outdoor activities. Leave it switched on (it runs on AAA batteries and will last a long time) and it will sound a loud alarm when it detects lightning. It then estimates the distance away from you. This reading isn’t hugely accurate, but it gives you an idea. It also counts the number of strikes detected, if you want to keep track. And, the other feature we like is the momentary backlight. Instead of wasting battery with a constantly-lit screen, you just click the lightbulb button and it lights up. If you’re looking for a simple and effective portable lightning detector, this will do the job. For more products that will enhance your home safety, check out our guide to the best smoke detectors.

Next up, we’ve got a completely different prospect. The AcuRite 01024M is much more than just a lightning tracker, it’s a full-blown mini weather station. It comes with a sensor that you place outside and a high-definition display that shows you the data. Seeing as this article is about lightning detectors, we’ll cover that feature first. It can detect lightning up to a distance of 25 miles from the sensor. Like the first AcuRite detector, it counts the lightning strikes and provides an estimated distance from the storm. However, even though it’s more accurate than the first, it still doesn’t tell you the direction. Basically, it’s not the best lightning detector on this list, but it’s the rest of the features that make it a great product.

It’s called a 5-in-1 weather station, which means that it measures temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, and rainfall. Plus, it will record this data for a year and show you highs and lows. In our research, we’ve found that – as long as you install it correctly – this weather station is pretty accurate. However, some concerns have been raised about the company’s customer support if something does go wrong.

This Strike Alert lightning detector is one of the most popular handheld devices around. It’s slightly more expensive than the AcuRite 02020, but the extra money buys you a bit more accuracy and a larger range. This model can detect lightning as far away as 40 miles and it has 4 distance markers to tell you roughly where the storm is (24-40, 12-24, 6-12, 0-6). Other than that, it’s a pretty similar product.

It has a relatively loud alarm (you’ll be able to hear it from your pocket), which sounds every time lightning is detected, and an LED strobe. The only problem is that it has an auto shut-off feature that turns the device off after 2 hours if no lightning has been detected. The idea behind this is to save battery, but it renders it useless for overnight camping trips. It also means you have to be vigilant and keep checking it throughout the day. If they removed this feature, it would be one of the best portable lightning detectors available. To protect your home from water damage, check out our guide to the best water detectors and pick the right one for your home.

The Strike Alert HD Lightning Detector is a more advanced portable lightning detector. You can still carry it around in your pocket or attached to a belt, but it will provide you with more detailed and accurate information. Of course, that means it’s more expensive than the lightning detectors we’ve looked at so far. It basically works in the same way as older, more basic portable detectors. It has a maximum detection range of 40 miles and breaks this down into smaller distance markers, but all of this is displayed on a small HD screen.

You might wonder why this is worth the extra money and the reason is that it has added a few features on the screen. In addition to the basic lightning detection, it shows you a visual representation of how powerful the storm is. Plus, it provides 1-hour storm trends to give you a more accurate idea of the storm’s progress. It also has 360º tracking, which means there are no blind spots. Older and more basic machines only have 180º tracking, so they have to be pointing in the direction of the storm to pick up any activity. If you are looking to ensure the security of your home, check out our guide to the best door alarms and find the one that suits your needs.

The General Tools LD7 Lightning Detector is another cost-effective handheld device. It’s not the most accurate or reliable product on this list, but for the price, it works pretty well. From the customer reviews, it seems that it’s better at detecting lightning that is more than a couple of miles away. However, that should be okay because you will generally be able to see if lightning is that close.

Instead of an LCD screen, General Tools have opted for a more solid design with 4 lights to indicate the distance. We prefer this design when the device doesn’t have any added features because it’s easier to understand and there’s less to go wrong. In addition to that, it has an audible alarm and a vibration alarm, which is something we haven’t seen in many pocket lightning detectors yet. In short, this isn’t the most advanced detector, but it’s a solid budget option. Be sure to also have a fire extinguisher at home for emergency situations.

If you’ve got a large budget to buy a lightning detector, the SkyScan EWS PRO 2 is one of the best options available. If you just looked at the features, you might be a little confused about why this product costs close to a thousand dollars. It has the same basic features as a portable lightning detector that you could pick up for less than a tenth of the price. The reason is that this is the only professional-grade portable lightning detector available. It might have the same detection range as a cheap lightning detector, but you can 100% trust the information coming from this detector.

It has a loud 105dB horn that will cut over pretty much any loud outdoor activity, as well as a severe thunderstorm warning light. This is all protected by a rugged case that is designed to be resistant against extreme weather. And, it’s powered by a 12-volt rechargeable battery that lasts over 7 days on a single charge. Like all professional lightning detectors, it has a false signaling filter that stops it from sounding the alarm because of interference. In short, this is the best lightning detector on this list. It’s easy to use, very accurate, and won’t let you down when you need it most. For true safety in a storm-prone area, this is the product for you.

This SkyScan lightning detector has long been one of the most popular handheld devices on the market. It’s been around for over a decade and the technology hasn’t changed a whole lot since then. If you look on YouTube, you’ll find a couple of reviews that sing the praises of this gold-standard in handheld lightning detectors. It’s reasonably expensive, but nowhere near the price of a professional-grade SkyScan detector.

Xtreme Research Skyscan Lightning/Storm Detector works in the same way as most portable lightning detectors. It can detect lightning up to 40 miles away and breaks down the distances into 0-3 miles, 3-8 miles, 8-20 miles, and 20-40 miles. Plus, in addition to this, it emits an audible tone every time it detects a lightning strike. That gives you an easy-to-understand indication of the severity of the storm. And, it has a severe thunderstorm warning sound that is longer than the normal lightning alarm. This is a really useful feature, especially if you’re not paying close attention to the alarm. SkyScan state that this device is accurate to 1-2 miles, 97% of the time. That’s not perfect, but it’s good enough to give you fair warning about an incoming storm. You may also like some of the best smart thermostats from our list, so be sure to check them out.

We couldn’t believe it when we found a lightning detector for under $20. Then, we read into it a little more and worked out why it’s so cheap. For this product to work, you need to have an existing AcuRite weather station (one of these models: 01021, 01022, 02080, 06046, 06047). So, it’s not worth buying unless you already own one of the corresponding weather stations. However, if you do, AcuRite 06045M Lightning Detector Sensor is a great and affordable option.

It can technically work as a stand-alone lightning detector, but it only flashes and beeps when lightning is detected within 25 miles, it doesn’t tell you how far away it is or whether it’s approaching or leaving the area. If you have got a weather station, this sensor will tell you how far away the storm is and how many strikes there are. It also measures the outdoor temperature and humidity and sends the data back to the screen. It’s pretty accurate, to say how cheap it is, but the fact that it only works with 5 different weather stations limits it. It would be better if it also worked with AcuRite’s new SmartHub. To be able to track the temperature both inside and outside at the same time, check out our guide to the best indoor outdoor thermometers and find the perfect one for your home.

The last product on our list is much more than just a handheld lightning detector. INO Weather Pro Handheld Weather Station with Lightning Detection a handheld weather station that has 7 different weather functions, so you can keep abreast of the changes in the weather around you. It measures temperature, humidity, pressure, heat index, dew point, altitude, and, of course, lightning. If you ignored all of the other functions, this product could be sold alone as a lightning detector. It has a small, color LCD screen which gives you detailed information about thunderstorms up to 40 miles away. It can tell you how far away the storm is, how many strikes per minute, and log the data so you can keep track of it. You can even download the information to your computer when you get home.

The other features make this the perfect handheld tool to take hiking, rock climbing, or any other outdoor activity. You can tell the device is geared towards that type of activity because of the altitude and pressure sensors. It might be expensive, but this is one of the most powerful and useful tools on the market. If you want an all-in-1 portable weather station, this is the one for you.