A computer-implemented method for predicting the potential for severe weather, the method comprising: receiving, by a computing device, data associated with lightning activity, wherein the data includes lightning flash data collected during a specific time interval; identifying, by the computing device, one or more cells of lightning activity based on the lightning flash data, the identifying comprising: positioning each lightning flash on the map according to its geographical location; superimposing a coarse grid on the map and identifying secors of the first grid with a high density of lightning flashes; superimposing a fine grid on the identified sectors of the map to locate closed contours associated with a lightning cell; and generating a convex polygon from each of the closed contours; determining, by the computing device, a movement speed, a movement direction, and a lightning rate of the one or more cells of lightning activity based on the received data; comparing, by the computing device, the determined lightning rate to a threshold lightning rate; determining, by the computing device, one or more geographical areas at risk based on the location, the movement speed, and the movement direction of the one or more cells of lightning activity; and issuing, by the computing device, an alert to one or more remote devices monitoring the geographical areas at risk when the lightning rate exceeds a value of the threshold lightning rate. receiving, by a computing device, data associated with lightning activity, wherein the data includes lightning flash data collected during a specific time interval; identifying, by the computing device, one or more cells of lightning activity based on the lightning flash data, the identifying comprising: positioning each lightning flash on the map according to its geographical location; superimposing a coarse grid on the map and identifying secors of the first grid with a high density of lightning flashes; superimposing a fine grid on the identified sectors of the map to locate closed contours associated with a lightning cell; and generating a convex polygon from each of the closed contours; positioning each lightning flash on the map according to its geographical location; superimposing a coarse grid on the map and identifying secors of the first grid with a high density of lightning flashes; superimposing a fine grid on the identified sectors of the map to locate closed contours associated with a lightning cell; and generating a convex polygon from each of the closed contours; determining, by the computing device, a movement speed, a movement direction, and a lightning rate of the one or more cells of lightning activity based on the received data; comparing, by the computing device, the determined lightning rate to a threshold lightning rate; determining, by the computing device, one or more geographical areas at risk based on the location, the movement speed, and the movement direction of the one or more cells of lightning activity; and issuing, by the computing device, an alert to one or more remote devices monitoring the geographical areas at risk when the lightning rate exceeds a value of the threshold lightning rate.