The lightning activity level is a common parameter that is part of fire weather forecasts nationwide. LAL is a measure of the amount of lightning activity using values 1 to 6 where:
| LAL | Cloud & Storm Development | Lightning Strikes/15 min |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No thunderstorms. | - |
| 2 | Cumulus clouds are common but only a few reach the towering cumulus stage. A single thunderstorm must be confirmed in the observation area. The clouds produce mainly virga, but light rain will occasionally reach the ground. Lightning is very infrequent. | 1-8 |
| 3 | Towering cumulus covers less than two-tenths of the sky. Thunderstorms are few, but two to three must occur within the observation area. Light to moderate rain will reach the ground, and lightning is infrequent. | 9-15 |
| 4 | Towering cumulus covers two to three-tenths of the sky. Thunderstorms are scattered and more than three must occur within the observation area. Moderate rain is common and lightning is frequent. | 16-25 |
| 5 | Towering cumulus and thunderstorms are numerous. They cover more than three-tenths and occasionally obscure the sky. Rain is moderate to heavy and lightning is frequent and intense. | >25 |
| 6 | Similar to LAL 3 except thunderstorms are dry. |