A lightning detection system (10) for detecting a lightning strike are provided. The system includes a lightning detector (12) in a structure susceptible to a lightning strike. The lightning detector includes a data logger (16) configured to log data indicative of a time of occurrence of the lightning strike. The system further includes memory (18) to store data collected from a wide-area lightning detection network (20). The stored data includes at least one characteristic of the lightning strike. A processor (22) may be configured to process data from the data logger relative to data collected from the wide-area lightning detection network to determine correlated data indicative of a lightning strike affecting the structure. In the event correlated data is determined, the processor may be configured to assign the characteristic of the lightning strike to the structure.