Data availability:
The raw data essential for reproducing the findings presented in this article are derived from proprietary commercial sources, and, unfortunately, the authors are not permitted to share this data due to contractual and authorization constraints. The restrictions imposed by the data providers prohibit the authors from making the raw data publicly available. However, the authors are committed to providing any necessary information or details about the data and methodology upon reasonable request to facilitate reproducibility and further scientific inquiry. Interested parties may contact the corresponding author for additional clarification or specific inquiries regarding the data used in this study.Urban-induced land use changes have a significant impact on local weather patterns, leading to increased hydro-meteorological hazards in cities. Despite substantial threats posed to humans, understanding atmospheric hazards related to urbanisation, such as thunderstorms, lightning, and convective precipitation, remains unclear. This study aims to analyse seasonal variability of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning in the five large metropolitans in Bangladesh utilising six years (2015–2020) of Global Lightning Detection Network (popularly known as GLD360) data. It also investigates factors influencing CG strokes. The analysis revealed substantial seasonal fluctuations in CG strokes, with a noticeable increase in lightning activity during the pre-monsoon months from upwind to metropolitan areas across the five cities. Both season and location appear to impact the diurnal variability of CG strokes in these urban centres. Bivariate regression analysis indicated that precipitation and particulate matter (PM) significantly influence lightning generation, whilst population density, urban size, and mean surface temperature have negligible effects. A sensitivity test employing a random forest (RF) model underscored the pivotal role of PM in CG strokes in four of the five cities assessed, highlighting the enduring impact of extreme pollution on lightning activity. Despite low causalities from CG lightning, the risk of property damage remains high in urban environments. This study provides valuable insights for shaping public policies in Bangladesh, a globally recognised climate hotspot.Open Access funding enabled and organized by CAUL and its Member Institutions. The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support was received during the preparation of this manuscript
