In recent years, lightning and severe convective weather have exhibited increasing frequency and intensity, resulting in rising disaster losses. This paper systematically analyzes the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics and evolution patterns of extreme lightning activity across China from January to April 2024, using data from the China Wide-Area Lightning Monitoring Network. During this period, China recorded 7276 million lightning strikes—a 465% increase compared to the same timeframe in 2023 and the highest volume in the past decade. Lightning activity intensified significantly in South, East, and Central China, with Guangdong, Jiangxi, and Hunan provinces experiencing particularly dramatic surges of 1769%, 790%, and 279%, respectively. Temporally, monthly lightning frequencies from February to April 2024 reached decade highs for those months, with April total (6.119 million strikes) nearing levels typical of peak thunderstorm season. Notably, single-day lightning activity on April 16 reached 708,000 nationwide occurrences, surpassing all previous daily records of the past decade; Jiangxi Province alone reported 236,000 strikes that day, doubling its historical peak. This study reveals evolving lightning characteristics under climate change, providing a scientific foundation for enhancing early warning systems and optimizing disaster prevention strategies for critical infrastructure.