---
title: "Returns lightning data by lat/lon from a given date."
method: GET
path: "/history/lightning"
tags: ["Historical Lightning"]
---

# Returns lightning data by lat/lon from a given date.

`GET /history/lightning`

Returns lightning data by lat/lon from a given date.

## Query parameters

- `lat` number, double, required
- `lon` number, double, required
- `date` string, required
- `limit` integer
- `skip` integer
- `search_distance_km` integer
- `sort` 'distance' | 'time', string
- `output_type` 'json' | 'geojson', string
- `tz` 'local' | 'utc', string
- `key` string, string, required

## Response `200`

Lightning data.

- LightningObsGroup
  - `count` integer — Total count of lightning events.
  - `date` string — Valid date of data in response (YYYY-MM-DD).
  - `limit` integer — Count of results in response (determined by limit parameter).
  - `lat` number — Latitude of point.
  - `lon` number — Longitude of point.
  - `search_distance_km` integer — Distance searched for lightning (radially) in KM.
  - `search_mins` number, nullable — Time backwards from current time searched for lightning.
  - `skip` integer, nullable — Number of results that were skipped in response (same as offset).
  - `sort` string — Ascending sort key of data (time or distance).
  - `timezone` string — Timezone of valid date.
  - `lightning` LightningObs[]
    - `lat` number — Latitude of lightning event
    - `lon` number — Longitude of lightning event
    - `bearing_cardinal` string — Cardinal direction of lightning event relative to point
    - `bearing_degrees` integer — Direction of lightning event relative to point in degrees
    - `distance_km` number — Distance of lightning event from point in kilometers
    - `distance_mi` number — Distance of lightning event from point in miles
    - `id` integer — Internal identifier of lightning event
    - `timestamp_utc` string — Timestamp of lightning event at UTC timezone (YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS)
    - `timestamp_local` string — Timestamp of lightning event at local timezone (YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS)
    - `past_mins` number — Amount of time passed since lightning event (in minutes)
    - `type` string — Type of lightning data
    - `source` string — Source of lightning data

## Other responses

- `204` — No Data Found
- `400` — Client Error
- `403` — Unauthorized/No Access for current plan level
- `429` — Daily or Velocity limit exceeded
- `500` — Internal Server Error

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/weatherbit/apis/weatherbit-interactive-swagger-ui-documentation.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/weatherbit/apis/weatherbit-interactive-swagger-ui-documentation/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-production.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/weatherbit/weatherbit-interactive-swagger-ui-documentation/revisions/31cff6bde48b/schema)