WATCH: Tracking Lightning Strikes, From Space

An image of Western Hemisphere lightning storms, captured Feb. 14 over the course of one hour. Brighter colors indicate more lightning energy was recorded (the key is in kilowatt-hours of total optical emissions from lightning.) The most powerful storm system is located over the Gulf Coast of Texas.

NOAA’s new weather satellite is carrying the first lightning detector ever parked in orbit over Earth. It has sent back its first images of real-time lightning storms in the Western Hemisphere.

(Image credit: MATLAB/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)