A map of current lightning conditions for the US is available at http://www.lightningstorm.com/ls2/gpg/lex1/mapdisplay_free.jsp . These are the folks that supply lightning data to NOAA, but they also sell it commercially --- hence NOAA can not longer distribute the worldwide data that we have been seeing. Still probably a handy item. Regards Rye K9LCJ Springfield, VA (suburban DC)