# Downstrike — Live lightning, real thunder

> Live lightning map with real thunder, storm tracking, and weather alerts. (iPhone/iPad app by Noah Zimmerman.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/downstrike/id6808016845 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Noah Zimmerman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1881068310)
- Category: Weather
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 2 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-09-21
- Data updated: 2026-10-12
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/downstrike/id6808016845/reviews.md

## What is Downstrike?

Downstrike is a live lightning map centered on your home. Strikes appear seconds after they flash — then cool from white to ember as they age, so every storm paints its own trail across the dark map.

THE MAP
• Live strikes from Blitzortung.org, a worldwide network of volunteer radio receivers that hears every bolt and locates it with a stopwatch
• Thunder rings expand from each strike at the real speed of sound — when a ring crosses your house, that's the moment the rumble arrives
• Distance rings at 10, 25 and 50 km, with an amber glow that points toward approaching activity
• Wind flow particles and a rain radar layer
• Real thunder, synthesized live: sharp booms up close, long low rumbles far away — at each strike's true distance

NO STORM NEARBY?
Tap the big glowing bolt. It flies you to the most active storm on Earth at that moment — there is always one somewhere.

STORM WARNINGS (US)
Turn on notifications and your phone buzzes when the National Weather Service issues a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning for where you are — even with the app closed. Plus a minute-by-minute rain forecast for the next hour, powered by Apple Weather.

HONEST BY DESIGN
Free, no accounts, no ads, no tracking. Your address stays on your device; if you enable warnings, only your approximate location (about 1 km) is stored to check official alerts — and turning them off deletes it.

Downstrike is for learning and storm-watching fun. It is not an emergency service — in dangerous weather, follow official guidance.

Made by Leo and Noah Zimmerman, a father-and-son team, with help from Claude. Lightning data thanks to the volunteers of Blitzortung.org. Map © CARTO, © OpenStreetMap contributors. Wind by Open-Meteo. Radar by RainViewer.

## Key features

- Live lightning strike visualization
- Real-time thunder sound simulation
- Storm tracking with distance rings
- Wind flow and rain radar layers
- Severe weather and tornado warnings
- Minute-by-minute rain forecast


## Frequently asked questions about Downstrike

### What is Downstrike?

Downstrike is a live lightning map that shows strikes seconds after they happen. It also simulates real thunder based on the strike's distance and includes features like rain radar and wind flow.

### How does Downstrike get its lightning data?

The app uses live strike data from Blitzortung.org, a global network of volunteer radio receivers that detect lightning bolts and pinpoint their location.

### Does Downstrike have ads?

No, Downstrike is designed to be honest and does not contain any advertisements. It is completely ad-free.

### Can Downstrike warn me about severe weather?

Yes, for users in the US, Downstrike can send notifications for severe thunderstorm or tornado warnings issued by the National Weather Service, even when the app is closed.

### What devices does Downstrike support?

Currently, Downstrike is supported on iPhones. The app is available for iOS devices.

### How often is Downstrike updated?

The latest version of Downstrike is 1.1, and it was last updated on September 30, 2026. Updates typically include improvements and new features.

### Is Downstrike free to use?

Yes, Downstrike is completely free to download and use. There are no accounts required, no ads, and no tracking of your personal data.

### What is the age rating for Downstrike?

Downstrike has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for children and general audiences.

## Version history (last 2 releases)

### 1.1 — 2026-09-30

Sound fixes! Thunder now booms even when your iPhone's silent switch is on, and it keeps working after you switch apps and come back — no more restarting the app to hear the storm.

### 1.0.0 — 2026-09-21

No release notes.

## Related topics

[thunderstorm warnings](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/thunderstorm-warnings)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-10-12.*