A portable communication device, including a location detection unit configured to determine the location of the device, a lightning detection unit configured to determine a distance between the lightning strike and the device, and a radio frequency circuit configured to output, via a communication network, data indicative of the location of the device and the distance between the lightning strike and the device. A system, including a lightning detection database and an analysis unit configured to receive, from the device via the communication network, data indicative of the location of the device and the distance between a lightning strike and the device, determine the location of the lightning strike based in part on the distance from the lightning strike to the location of the device, and store the location of the lightning strike in the lightning detection database.