How do I simulate a lightning strike?

Open this page and use the live Geostrophic Wind tool below — set your inputs and the simulation runs instantly in your browser using real numerics. No install, no account needed.

Yes. The simulation runs free in your browser. A one-time unlock or a Pro plan adds advanced parameters, saved presets, data import, and clean exports.

Can I use my own numbers?

Absolutely — every input is adjustable, and with data import you can drive a lightning strike from your own measurements.

Use case · powered by Geostrophic Wind

Geostrophic Wind for a lightning strike

Simulate a lightning strike live in your browser. This runs the real Geostrophic Wind solver — adjust the inputs, watch it respond instantly, and export the result. No install, no account.

For:Students Researchers Educators Engineers Hobbyists & Makers K-12 Students First Responders

Geostrophic WindLive

wind parallel to isobars

Controls

Presets

Pressure gradient (mbar/100km)

Latitude (°)

Away from the ground, wind does not blow from high to low pressure — it blows along the isobars. The pressure-gradient force pushing air toward low pressure is balanced by the Coriolis force, and the result, the geostrophic wind, runs parallel to the pressure lines. Tighter isobar spacing means stronger wind. This is why you can read wind straight off a weather map.

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Geostrophic wind24.2 m/s

In km/h87 km/h

Coriolis f1.03×10⁻⁴

Governing equation

v_{g} = \frac{1}{ρ f} \frac{\partial p}{\partial n} = 24.2 m/s, f = 2Ω sin (45°) = 1.03 \times 1 0^{- 4} s^{- 1}

Reading this result: The wind blows along the isobars, not across them: the pressure-gradient force toward low pressure is exactly cancelled by the Coriolis force, leaving a steady flow parallel to the lines.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

or unlock everything with Pro →

About this simulation

The full Geostrophic Wind tool models a lightning strike with the same numerics engineers and scientists use — running entirely client-side. Change any parameter and the result updates in real time, so you can build intuition, check a design, or teach the concept without spreadsheets or installs.

More you can do with Geostrophic Wind

Geostrophic Wind for a thunderstorm Geostrophic Wind for a hurricane track Geostrophic Wind for a tornado Geostrophic Wind for a heat wave Geostrophic Wind for a cold front Geostrophic Wind for a sea breeze Geostrophic Wind for a flash flood Geostrophic Wind for a snowstorm

Other ways to simulate a lightning strike

Atmospheric Stability for a lightning strike Coriolis Effect for a lightning strike Hurricane Model for a lightning strike Wind Chill & Heat Index for a lightning strike Psychrometrics for a lightning strike Rossby Waves for a lightning strike

Frequently asked questions

How do I simulate a lightning strike?: Open this page and use the live Geostrophic Wind tool below — set your inputs and the simulation runs instantly in your browser using real numerics. No install, no account needed.
Is it free?: Yes. The simulation runs free in your browser. A one-time unlock or a Pro plan adds advanced parameters, saved presets, data import, and clean exports.
Can I use my own numbers?: Absolutely — every input is adjustable, and with data import you can drive a lightning strike from your own measurements.