Increased thunderstorms and lightning are also likely to cause flash flooding, mudslides, and accelerate glacier melting due to more dark particles in the atmosphere that absorb heat.

Experts suggest that urban planning strategies such as fire-safe building codes and agricultural buffers could help mitigate wildfire impacts in fire-prone regions, especially as fire risks continue to grow.

Recent wildfires across California, including the destruction of the historic Gold Rush town of Chinese Camp, have been ignited by dry lightning storms that caused nearly 11,000 ground strikes over 31 hours, highlighting the increasing frequency of such events.

Researchers warn that climate change is making dry lightning storms more common, which significantly raises the risk of larger, uncontrolled wildfires in dry vegetation areas.

A new study projects that lightning is likely to strike California more frequently in the future, with some western states potentially experiencing up to 12 additional lightning days annually between 2030 and 2060, further increasing wildfire risk.

Lightning-caused wildfires tend to occur in remote areas, often resulting in larger fires that produce significant smoke, worsening air quality across the US, Europe, and Canada.

While most wildfires are caused by human activity, lightning remains responsible for a substantial portion of area burned, emphasizing the importance of wildfire detection and preparedness systems.

The strain on firefighting resources is mounting due to federal budget cuts, staffing shortages, and logistical challenges, which complicates efforts to contain wildfires caused by lightning.

Lightning-induced wildfires divert emergency response capacity, especially because they often ignite in remote locations, making early detection and rapid response critical.

California has invested in advanced fire detection technologies, including AI-powered camera networks, to better identify and respond to lightning-induced fires that can smolder in remote areas for weeks.

Over the past 40 years, thunderstorms and lightning have increased across many parts of the US West, contributing to a rise in wildfires, with Europe experiencing its worst wildfire season in history this year, partly due to lightning fires.

Projections suggest that by mid-century, the number of lightning-caused wildfires could surge, potentially leading to over 20,000 wildfire-related deaths annually in the US due to increased smoke exposure.

Climate change is expected to cause regional variations, with the Pacific Northwest experiencing more lightning but less fire risk due to higher moisture levels, while arid regions like the Southwest face increased wildfire danger from drought conditions.