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 lighting activity based upon the lightning flash data, comprising: positioning each lightning flash on a map according to its geographic location; superimposing a first grid on the map and identifying sectors of the first grid with a high density of lightning flashes; superimposing a second 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; generating, by the computing device, a threshold lightning rate for each of the one or more cells of lightning activity by correlating present atmospheric conditions in a location of the one or more cells of lightning activity with historical atmospheric conditions in the location of the one or more cells of lightning activity; comparing , by the computing device, the determined lightning rate to the 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 determined lightning rate exceeds 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 lighting activity based upon the lightning flash data, comprising: positioning each lightning flash on a map according to its geographic location; superimposing a first grid on the map and identifying sectors of the first grid with a high density of lightning flashes; superimposing a second 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 a map according to its geographic location; superimposing a first grid on the map and identifying sectors of the first grid with a high density of lightning flashes; superimposing a second 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; generating, by the computing device, a threshold lightning rate for each of the one or more cells of lightning activity by correlating present atmospheric conditions in a location of the one or more cells of lightning activity with historical atmospheric conditions in the location of the one or more cells of lightning activity; comparing , by the computing device, the determined lightning rate to the 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 determined lightning rate exceeds the threshold lightning rate. <EOS>