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Twice now I have been summitting peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park while getting really early starts to avoid the afternoon thunderstorms.
However in both cases I could still see lighting in the distance several hours before sunrise (think 3:30 to 6:00 am).
What type of weather conditions would lead to lightning strikes before sunrise?
Thunderstorms due to diurnal variations from the previous day that still last as well as incoming cold fronts could be the cause. The former wouldn't be a big threat, as they would abate, the latter would likely thwart any attempt at the peak (however generally you would be aware of it due to forecasting).
