Normal Mode
Use the "Start Time" and "End Time" inputs to filter lightning strikes by time, then click "Apply Filter". Toggle layers like "Lightning Layer", "Heatmap", and "Overlay Numbers" to visualize data. Use the slider below the map to view strikes within the "Lightning Lifespan" (e.g., 3 hours) from the selected time, up to the "Max History" hours back (left) to now (right). Adjust the "Lightning Lifespan" to control the time window of displayed strikes. Click "Play" to animate strikes from oldest to newest, adjust speed with the slider or "Minutes per Second" input (e.g., 1 = 1 minute of strikes per second), and stop to pause.
Enable "Sound" to play a thunder sound for each new strike within the map's view.
Enable "3D Mode" to view the map as a 3D globe with terrain using Mapbox's Handry Outlook style, occupying the full map container. In 3D mode, the "Heatmap" checkbox controls a 2D heatmap, and the "3D Heatmap" checkbox enables a 3D terrain-like surface. Both can be enabled simultaneously. Adjust "3D Heatmap Resolution" and "3D Heatmap Tower Height" sliders (visible only in 3D mode) for the 3D heatmap, and "Heatmap Blur" for the 2D heatmap. Overlay numbers, KML, and PNG layers are also supported in 3D mode.
Enable "Nowcast" to display predicted lightning movement based on recent strike clusters. Nowcast shows circles at cluster centers and cones indicating the predicted direction of movement, colored by confidence (purple for very high, red for high, orange for moderate, yellow for low). This feature works in both 2D and 3D modes and updates dynamically when applying filters.
Expert Mode
Enable "Expert Mode" to access KML and PNG uploads. Upload a KML file to overlay risk zones, or a PNG file for custom imagery. Toggle these layers on/off and adjust settings like "PNG Opacity" or layer z-indices to customize their display order in both 2D and 3D modes.
For KML files, ensure polygon names match risk levels: 'Low risk', 'Slight risk', 'Enhanced risk', 'Moderate risk', 'High risk' for correct colors.
For PNG files, the filename should include the region name (e.g., 'England', 'Wales') to set image bounds.
You can also export lightning map as a png file by entering a set of coorindates or drag an area on the map by clicking 'Export Strikes As PNG'.