diff --git a/client/src/lib.rs b/client/src/lib.rs
index 6dad7944a1..23ad15aa00 100644
--- a/client/src/lib.rs
+++ b/client/src/lib.rs
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ use common::{
     trade::{PendingTrade, SitePrices, TradeAction, TradeId, TradeResult},
     uid::{IdMaps, Uid},
     vol::RectVolSize,
-    weather::{Weather, WeatherGrid},
+    weather::{CompressedWeather, SharedWeatherGrid, Weather, WeatherGrid},
 };
 #[cfg(feature = "tracy")] use common_base::plot;
 use common_base::{prof_span, span};
@@ -178,12 +178,32 @@ pub struct SiteInfoRich {
 }
 
 struct WeatherLerp {
-    old: (WeatherGrid, Instant),
-    new: (WeatherGrid, Instant),
+    old: (SharedWeatherGrid, Instant),
+    new: (SharedWeatherGrid, Instant),
+    old_local_wind: (Vec2<f32>, Instant),
+    new_local_wind: (Vec2<f32>, Instant),
+    local_wind: Vec2<f32>,
 }
 
 impl WeatherLerp {
-    fn weather_update(&mut self, weather: WeatherGrid) {
+    fn local_wind_update(&mut self, wind: Vec2<f32>) {
+        self.old_local_wind = mem::replace(&mut self.new_local_wind, (wind, Instant::now()));
+    }
+
+    fn update_local_wind(&mut self) {
+        // Assumes updates are regular
+        let t = (self.new_local_wind.1.elapsed().as_secs_f32()
+            / self
+                .new_local_wind
+                .1
+                .duration_since(self.old_local_wind.1)
+                .as_secs_f32())
+        .clamp(0.0, 1.0);
+
+        self.local_wind = Vec2::lerp_unclamped(self.old_local_wind.0, self.new_local_wind.0, t);
+    }
+
+    fn weather_update(&mut self, weather: SharedWeatherGrid) {
         self.old = mem::replace(&mut self.new, (weather, Instant::now()));
     }
 
@@ -191,13 +211,14 @@ impl WeatherLerp {
     // that updates come at regular intervals.
     fn update(&mut self, to_update: &mut WeatherGrid) {
         prof_span!("WeatherLerp::update");
+        self.update_local_wind();
         let old = &self.old.0;
         let new = &self.new.0;
         if new.size() == Vec2::zero() {
             return;
         }
         if to_update.size() != new.size() {
-            *to_update = new.clone();
+            *to_update = WeatherGrid::from(new);
         }
         if old.size() == new.size() {
             // Assumes updates are regular
@@ -209,7 +230,7 @@ impl WeatherLerp {
                 .iter_mut()
                 .zip(old.iter().zip(new.iter()))
                 .for_each(|((_, current), ((_, old), (_, new)))| {
-                    *current = Weather::lerp_unclamped(old, new, t);
+                    *current = CompressedWeather::lerp_unclamped(old, new, t);
                 });
         }
     }
@@ -217,9 +238,14 @@ impl WeatherLerp {
 
 impl Default for WeatherLerp {
     fn default() -> Self {
+        let old = Instant::now();
+        let new = Instant::now();
         Self {
-            old: (WeatherGrid::new(Vec2::zero()), Instant::now()),
-            new: (WeatherGrid::new(Vec2::zero()), Instant::now()),
+            old: (SharedWeatherGrid::new(Vec2::zero()), old),
+            new: (SharedWeatherGrid::new(Vec2::zero()), new),
+            old_local_wind: (Vec2::zero(), old),
+            new_local_wind: (Vec2::zero(), new),
+            local_wind: Vec2::zero(),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -1716,7 +1742,11 @@ impl Client {
     /// Returns Weather::default if no player position exists.
     pub fn weather_at_player(&self) -> Weather {
         self.position()
-            .map(|wpos| self.state.weather_at(wpos.xy()))
+            .map(|p| {
+                let mut weather = self.state.weather_at(p.xy());
+                weather.wind = self.weather.local_wind;
+                weather
+            })
             .unwrap_or_default()
     }
 
@@ -2539,6 +2569,9 @@ impl Client {
             ServerGeneral::WeatherUpdate(weather) => {
                 self.weather.weather_update(weather);
             },
+            ServerGeneral::LocalWindUpdate(wind) => {
+                self.weather.local_wind_update(wind);
+            },
             ServerGeneral::SpectatePosition(pos) => {
                 frontend_events.push(Event::SpectatePosition(pos));
             },
diff --git a/common/net/src/msg/server.rs b/common/net/src/msg/server.rs
index 89c79d76fa..2f7ecf8ad9 100644
--- a/common/net/src/msg/server.rs
+++ b/common/net/src/msg/server.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ use common::{
     trade::{PendingTrade, SitePrices, TradeId, TradeResult},
     uid::Uid,
     uuid::Uuid,
-    weather::WeatherGrid,
+    weather::SharedWeatherGrid,
 };
 use hashbrown::HashMap;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
@@ -214,7 +214,8 @@ pub enum ServerGeneral {
     /// Economic information about sites
     SiteEconomy(EconomyInfo),
     MapMarker(comp::MapMarkerUpdate),
-    WeatherUpdate(WeatherGrid),
+    WeatherUpdate(SharedWeatherGrid),
+    LocalWindUpdate(Vec2<f32>),
     /// Suggest the client to spectate a position. Called after client has
     /// requested teleport etc.
     SpectatePosition(Vec3<f32>),
@@ -339,6 +340,7 @@ impl ServerMsg {
                         | ServerGeneral::SiteEconomy(_)
                         | ServerGeneral::MapMarker(_)
                         | ServerGeneral::WeatherUpdate(_)
+                        | ServerGeneral::LocalWindUpdate(_)
                         | ServerGeneral::SpectatePosition(_) => {
                             c_type == ClientType::Game && presence.is_some()
                         },
diff --git a/common/src/weather.rs b/common/src/weather.rs
index 2ee3a61a40..8d2e78cd22 100644
--- a/common/src/weather.rs
+++ b/common/src/weather.rs
@@ -32,11 +32,11 @@ impl Weather {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn lerp_unclamped(from: &Self, to: &Self, t: f32) -> Self {
+    pub fn lerp_unclamped(&self, to: &Self, t: f32) -> Self {
         Self {
-            cloud: f32::lerp_unclamped(from.cloud, to.cloud, t),
-            rain: f32::lerp_unclamped(from.rain, to.rain, t),
-            wind: Vec2::<f32>::lerp_unclamped(from.wind, to.wind, t),
+            cloud: f32::lerp_unclamped(self.cloud, to.cloud, t),
+            rain: f32::lerp_unclamped(self.rain, to.rain, t),
+            wind: Vec2::<f32>::lerp_unclamped(self.wind, to.wind, t),
         }
     }
 
@@ -75,11 +75,105 @@ pub const CHUNKS_PER_CELL: u32 = 16;
 
 pub const CELL_SIZE: u32 = CHUNKS_PER_CELL * TerrainChunkSize::RECT_SIZE.x;
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct WeatherGrid {
     weather: Grid<Weather>,
 }
 
+/// Weather that's compressed in order to send it to the client.
+#[derive(Default, Debug, Clone, Copy, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct CompressedWeather {
+    cloud: u8,
+    rain: u8,
+}
+
+impl CompressedWeather {
+    pub fn lerp_unclamped(&self, to: &CompressedWeather, t: f32) -> Weather {
+        Weather {
+            cloud: f32::lerp_unclamped(self.cloud as f32, to.cloud as f32, t) / 255.0,
+            rain: f32::lerp_unclamped(self.rain as f32, to.rain as f32, t) / 255.0,
+            wind: Vec2::zero(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<Weather> for CompressedWeather {
+    fn from(weather: Weather) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            cloud: (weather.cloud * 255.0).round() as u8,
+            rain: (weather.rain * 255.0).round() as u8,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<CompressedWeather> for Weather {
+    fn from(weather: CompressedWeather) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            cloud: weather.cloud as f32 / 255.0,
+            rain: weather.rain as f32 / 255.0,
+            wind: Vec2::zero(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct SharedWeatherGrid {
+    weather: Grid<CompressedWeather>,
+}
+
+impl From<&WeatherGrid> for SharedWeatherGrid {
+    fn from(value: &WeatherGrid) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            weather: Grid::from_raw(
+                value.weather.size(),
+                value
+                    .weather
+                    .raw()
+                    .iter()
+                    .copied()
+                    .map(CompressedWeather::from)
+                    .collect::<Vec<_>>(),
+            ),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<&SharedWeatherGrid> for WeatherGrid {
+    fn from(value: &SharedWeatherGrid) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            weather: Grid::from_raw(
+                value.weather.size(),
+                value
+                    .weather
+                    .raw()
+                    .iter()
+                    .copied()
+                    .map(Weather::from)
+                    .collect::<Vec<_>>(),
+            ),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl SharedWeatherGrid {
+    pub fn new(size: Vec2<u32>) -> Self {
+        size.map(|e| debug_assert!(i32::try_from(e).is_ok()));
+        Self {
+            weather: Grid::new(size.as_(), CompressedWeather::default()),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn iter(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = (Vec2<i32>, &CompressedWeather)> {
+        self.weather.iter()
+    }
+
+    pub fn iter_mut(&mut self) -> impl Iterator<Item = (Vec2<i32>, &mut CompressedWeather)> {
+        self.weather.iter_mut()
+    }
+
+    pub fn size(&self) -> Vec2<u32> { self.weather.size().as_() }
+}
+
 /// Transforms a world position to cell coordinates. Where (0.0, 0.0) in cell
 /// coordinates is the center of the weather cell located at (0, 0) in the grid.
 fn to_cell_pos(wpos: Vec2<f32>) -> Vec2<f32> { wpos / CELL_SIZE as f32 - 0.5 }
@@ -113,6 +207,13 @@ impl WeatherGrid {
 
     pub fn size(&self) -> Vec2<u32> { self.weather.size().as_() }
 
+    pub fn get(&self, cell_pos: Vec2<u32>) -> Weather {
+        self.weather
+            .get(cell_pos.as_())
+            .copied()
+            .unwrap_or_default()
+    }
+
     /// Get the weather at a given world position by doing bilinear
     /// interpolation between four cells.
     pub fn get_interpolated(&self, wpos: Vec2<f32>) -> Weather {
diff --git a/server/src/client.rs b/server/src/client.rs
index 8b785ff663..a19bf45011 100644
--- a/server/src/client.rs
+++ b/server/src/client.rs
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ impl Client {
                     | ServerGeneral::FinishedTrade(_)
                     | ServerGeneral::MapMarker(_)
                     | ServerGeneral::WeatherUpdate(_)
+                    | ServerGeneral::LocalWindUpdate(_)
                     | ServerGeneral::SpectatePosition(_) => {
                         PreparedMsg::new(2, &g, &self.in_game_stream_params)
                     },
diff --git a/server/src/cmd.rs b/server/src/cmd.rs
index fbe69ac378..b8a1f90e68 100644
--- a/server/src/cmd.rs
+++ b/server/src/cmd.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use crate::{
         SettingError, WhitelistInfo, WhitelistRecord,
     },
     sys::terrain::NpcData,
-    weather::WeatherSim,
+    weather::WeatherJob,
     wiring,
     wiring::OutputFormula,
     Server, Settings, StateExt,
@@ -4474,11 +4474,14 @@ fn handle_weather_zone(
         let mut add_zone = |weather: weather::Weather| {
             if let Ok(pos) = position(server, client, "player") {
                 let pos = pos.0.xy() / weather::CELL_SIZE as f32;
-                server
+                if let Some(weather_job) = server
                     .state
                     .ecs_mut()
-                    .write_resource::<WeatherSim>()
-                    .add_zone(weather, pos, radius, time);
+                    .write_resource::<Option<WeatherJob>>()
+                    .as_mut()
+                {
+                    weather_job.queue_zone(weather, pos, radius, time);
+                }
             }
         };
         match name.as_str() {
diff --git a/server/src/lib.rs b/server/src/lib.rs
index 24bd2877ab..e25b298b5d 100644
--- a/server/src/lib.rs
+++ b/server/src/lib.rs
@@ -371,6 +371,7 @@ impl Server {
             pool.configure("CHUNK_GENERATOR", |n| n / 2 + n / 4);
             pool.configure("CHUNK_SERIALIZER", |n| n / 2);
             pool.configure("RTSIM_SAVE", |_| 1);
+            pool.configure("WEATHER", |_| 1);
         }
         state
             .ecs_mut()
@@ -588,7 +589,7 @@ impl Server {
                     return Err(Error::RtsimError(err));
                 },
             }
-            weather::init(&mut state, &world);
+            weather::init(&mut state);
         }
 
         let server_constants = ServerConstants {
diff --git a/server/src/weather/mod.rs b/server/src/weather/mod.rs
index 3d36d15d59..710a9cc8fa 100644
--- a/server/src/weather/mod.rs
+++ b/server/src/weather/mod.rs
@@ -1,41 +1,23 @@
-use common::weather::CHUNKS_PER_CELL;
-use common_ecs::{dispatch, System};
+use common_ecs::dispatch;
 use common_state::State;
 use specs::DispatcherBuilder;
-use std::time::Duration;
-
-use crate::sys::SysScheduler;
 
 mod sim;
-mod sync;
 mod tick;
 
-pub use sim::WeatherSim;
+pub use tick::WeatherJob;
 
 /// How often the weather is updated, in seconds
 const WEATHER_DT: f32 = 5.0;
 
 pub fn add_server_systems(dispatch_builder: &mut DispatcherBuilder) {
     dispatch::<tick::Sys>(dispatch_builder, &[]);
-    dispatch::<sync::Sys>(dispatch_builder, &[&tick::Sys::sys_name()]);
 }
 
 #[cfg(feature = "worldgen")]
-pub fn init(state: &mut State, world: &world::World) {
-    let weather_size = world.sim().get_size() / CHUNKS_PER_CELL;
-    let sim = WeatherSim::new(weather_size, world);
-    state.ecs_mut().insert(sim);
+pub fn init(state: &mut State) {
+    use crate::weather::sim::LightningCells;
 
-    // NOTE: If weather computations get too heavy, this should not block the main
-    // thread.
-    state
-        .ecs_mut()
-        .insert(SysScheduler::<tick::Sys>::every(Duration::from_secs_f32(
-            WEATHER_DT,
-        )));
-    state
-        .ecs_mut()
-        .insert(SysScheduler::<sync::Sys>::every(Duration::from_secs_f32(
-            WEATHER_DT,
-        )));
+    state.ecs_mut().insert(None::<WeatherJob>);
+    state.ecs_mut().insert(LightningCells::default());
 }
diff --git a/server/src/weather/sim.rs b/server/src/weather/sim.rs
index 5310df541a..753b2c6002 100644
--- a/server/src/weather/sim.rs
+++ b/server/src/weather/sim.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,9 @@
 use common::{
-    event::EventBus,
     grid::Grid,
-    outcome::Outcome,
     resources::TimeOfDay,
     weather::{Weather, WeatherGrid, CELL_SIZE, CHUNKS_PER_CELL},
 };
 use noise::{NoiseFn, SuperSimplex, Turbulence};
-use rand::prelude::*;
 use vek::*;
 use world::World;
 
@@ -31,6 +28,12 @@ pub struct WeatherSim {
     zones: Grid<Option<WeatherZone>>,
 }
 
+/// A list of weather cells where lightning has a chance to strike.
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub struct LightningCells {
+    pub cells: Vec<Vec2<i32>>,
+}
+
 impl WeatherSim {
     pub fn new(size: Vec2<u32>, world: &World) -> Self {
         Self {
@@ -85,14 +88,8 @@ impl WeatherSim {
         }
     }
 
-    // Time step is cell size / maximum wind speed
-    pub fn tick(
-        &mut self,
-        time_of_day: &TimeOfDay,
-        outcomes: &EventBus<Outcome>,
-        out: &mut WeatherGrid,
-        world: &World,
-    ) {
+    // Time step is cell size / maximum wind speed.
+    pub fn tick(&mut self, time_of_day: TimeOfDay, out: &mut WeatherGrid) -> LightningCells {
         let time = time_of_day.0;
 
         let base_nz = Turbulence::new(
@@ -105,6 +102,7 @@ impl WeatherSim {
 
         let rain_nz = SuperSimplex::new();
 
+        let mut lightning_cells = Vec::new();
         for (point, cell) in out.iter_mut() {
             if let Some(zone) = &mut self.zones[point] {
                 *cell = zone.weather;
@@ -147,16 +145,14 @@ impl WeatherSim {
                     rain_nz.get((spos + 1.0).into_array()).powi(3) as f32,
                 ) * 200.0
                     * (1.0 - pressure);
-
-                if cell.rain > 0.2 && cell.cloud > 0.15 && thread_rng().gen_bool(0.01) {
-                    let wpos = wpos.map(|e| {
-                        e as f32 + thread_rng().gen_range(-1.0..1.0) * CELL_SIZE as f32 * 0.5
-                    });
-                    outcomes.emit_now(Outcome::Lightning {
-                        pos: wpos.with_z(world.sim().get_alt_approx(wpos.as_()).unwrap_or(0.0)),
-                    });
-                }
             }
+
+            if cell.rain > 0.2 && cell.cloud > 0.15 {
+                lightning_cells.push(point);
+            }
+        }
+        LightningCells {
+            cells: lightning_cells,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/server/src/weather/sync.rs b/server/src/weather/sync.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index b5d58c22ed..0000000000
--- a/server/src/weather/sync.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,37 +0,0 @@
-use common::weather::WeatherGrid;
-use common_ecs::{Origin, Phase, System};
-use common_net::msg::ServerGeneral;
-use specs::{Join, ReadExpect, ReadStorage, Write};
-
-use crate::{client::Client, sys::SysScheduler};
-
-#[derive(Default)]
-pub struct Sys;
-
-impl<'a> System<'a> for Sys {
-    type SystemData = (
-        ReadExpect<'a, WeatherGrid>,
-        Write<'a, SysScheduler<Self>>,
-        ReadStorage<'a, Client>,
-    );
-
-    const NAME: &'static str = "weather::sync";
-    const ORIGIN: Origin = Origin::Server;
-    const PHASE: Phase = Phase::Create;
-
-    fn run(
-        _job: &mut common_ecs::Job<Self>,
-        (weather_grid, mut scheduler, clients): Self::SystemData,
-    ) {
-        if scheduler.should_run() {
-            let mut lazy_msg = None;
-            for client in clients.join() {
-                if lazy_msg.is_none() {
-                    lazy_msg =
-                        Some(client.prepare(ServerGeneral::WeatherUpdate(weather_grid.clone())));
-                }
-                lazy_msg.as_ref().map(|msg| client.send_prepared(msg));
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/server/src/weather/tick.rs b/server/src/weather/tick.rs
index c52bf0c99a..acf213ee8a 100644
--- a/server/src/weather/tick.rs
+++ b/server/src/weather/tick.rs
@@ -1,24 +1,64 @@
-use common::{event::EventBus, outcome::Outcome, resources::TimeOfDay, weather::WeatherGrid};
+use common::{
+    comp,
+    event::EventBus,
+    outcome::Outcome,
+    resources::{DeltaTime, ProgramTime, TimeOfDay},
+    slowjob::{SlowJob, SlowJobPool},
+    weather::{SharedWeatherGrid, Weather, WeatherGrid},
+};
 use common_ecs::{Origin, Phase, System};
-use specs::{Read, ReadExpect, Write, WriteExpect};
-use std::sync::Arc;
+use common_net::msg::ServerGeneral;
+use rand::{seq::SliceRandom, thread_rng, Rng};
+use specs::{Entities, Join, Read, ReadExpect, ReadStorage, Write, WriteExpect};
+use std::{mem, sync::Arc};
+use vek::Vec2;
 use world::World;
 
-use crate::sys::SysScheduler;
+use crate::{client::Client, Tick};
 
-use super::sim::WeatherSim;
+use super::{
+    sim::{LightningCells, WeatherSim},
+    WEATHER_DT,
+};
+
+enum WeatherJobState {
+    Working(SlowJob),
+    Idle(WeatherSim),
+    None,
+}
+
+pub struct WeatherJob {
+    last_update: ProgramTime,
+    weather_tx: crossbeam_channel::Sender<(WeatherGrid, LightningCells, WeatherSim)>,
+    weather_rx: crossbeam_channel::Receiver<(WeatherGrid, LightningCells, WeatherSim)>,
+    state: WeatherJobState,
+    qeued_zones: Vec<(Weather, Vec2<f32>, f32, f32)>,
+}
+
+impl WeatherJob {
+    pub fn queue_zone(&mut self, weather: Weather, pos: Vec2<f32>, radius: f32, time: f32) {
+        self.qeued_zones.push((weather, pos, radius, time))
+    }
+}
 
 #[derive(Default)]
 pub struct Sys;
 
 impl<'a> System<'a> for Sys {
     type SystemData = (
+        Entities<'a>,
         Read<'a, TimeOfDay>,
-        WriteExpect<'a, WeatherSim>,
+        Read<'a, ProgramTime>,
+        Read<'a, Tick>,
+        Read<'a, DeltaTime>,
+        Write<'a, LightningCells>,
+        Write<'a, Option<WeatherJob>>,
         WriteExpect<'a, WeatherGrid>,
-        Write<'a, SysScheduler<Self>>,
+        WriteExpect<'a, SlowJobPool>,
         ReadExpect<'a, EventBus<Outcome>>,
         ReadExpect<'a, Arc<World>>,
+        ReadStorage<'a, Client>,
+        ReadStorage<'a, comp::Pos>,
     );
 
     const NAME: &'static str = "weather::tick";
@@ -27,13 +67,110 @@ impl<'a> System<'a> for Sys {
 
     fn run(
         _job: &mut common_ecs::Job<Self>,
-        (game_time, mut sim, mut grid, mut scheduler, outcomes, world): Self::SystemData,
+        (
+            entities,
+            game_time,
+            program_time,
+            tick,
+            delta_time,
+            mut lightning_cells,
+            mut weather_job,
+            mut grid,
+            slow_job_pool,
+            outcomes,
+            world,
+            clients,
+            positions,
+        ): Self::SystemData,
     ) {
-        if scheduler.should_run() {
-            if grid.size() != sim.size() {
+        let to_update = match &mut *weather_job {
+            Some(weather_job) => (program_time.0 - weather_job.last_update.0 >= WEATHER_DT as f64)
+                .then_some(weather_job),
+            None => {
+                let (weather_tx, weather_rx) = crossbeam_channel::bounded(1);
+
+                let weather_size = world.sim().get_size() / common::weather::CHUNKS_PER_CELL;
+                let mut sim = WeatherSim::new(weather_size, &world);
                 *grid = WeatherGrid::new(sim.size());
+                *lightning_cells = sim.tick(*game_time, &mut grid);
+
+                *weather_job = Some(WeatherJob {
+                    last_update: *program_time,
+                    weather_tx,
+                    weather_rx,
+                    state: WeatherJobState::Idle(sim),
+                    qeued_zones: Vec::new(),
+                });
+
+                None
+            },
+        };
+
+        if let Some(weather_job) = to_update {
+            if matches!(weather_job.state, WeatherJobState::Working(_))
+            && let Ok((new_grid, new_lightning_cells, sim)) = weather_job.weather_rx.try_recv() {
+                *grid = new_grid;
+                *lightning_cells = new_lightning_cells;
+                let mut lazy_msg = None;
+                for client in clients.join() {
+                    if lazy_msg.is_none() {
+                        lazy_msg = Some(client.prepare(ServerGeneral::WeatherUpdate(
+                            SharedWeatherGrid::from(&*grid),
+                        )));
+                    }
+                    lazy_msg.as_ref().map(|msg| client.send_prepared(msg));
+                }
+                weather_job.state = WeatherJobState::Idle(sim);
+
+            }
+
+            if matches!(weather_job.state, WeatherJobState::Idle(_)) {
+                weather_job.last_update = *program_time;
+                let old_state = mem::replace(&mut weather_job.state, WeatherJobState::None);
+
+                let WeatherJobState::Idle(mut sim) = old_state else {
+                    unreachable!()
+                };
+
+                let weather_tx = weather_job.weather_tx.clone();
+                let game_time = *game_time;
+                for (weather, pos, radius, time) in weather_job.qeued_zones.drain(..) {
+                    sim.add_zone(weather, pos, radius, time)
+                }
+                let job = slow_job_pool.spawn("WEATHER", move || {
+                    let mut grid = WeatherGrid::new(sim.size());
+                    let lightning_cells = sim.tick(game_time, &mut grid);
+                    let _ = weather_tx.send((grid, lightning_cells, sim));
+                });
+
+                weather_job.state = WeatherJobState::Working(job);
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Chance to emit lightning every frame from one or more of the cells that
+        // currently has the correct weather conditions.
+        let mut outcome_emitter = outcomes.emitter();
+        let mut rng = thread_rng();
+        let num_cells = lightning_cells.cells.len() as f64 * 0.0015 * delta_time.0 as f64;
+        let num_cells = num_cells.floor() as u32 + rng.gen_bool(num_cells.fract()) as u32;
+
+        for _ in 0..num_cells {
+            let cell_pos = lightning_cells.cells.choose(&mut rng).expect(
+                "This is non-empty, since we multiply with its len for the chance to do a \
+                 lightning strike.",
+            );
+            let wpos = cell_pos
+                .map(|e| (e as f32 + rng.gen_range(0.0..1.0)) * common::weather::CELL_SIZE as f32);
+            outcome_emitter.emit(Outcome::Lightning {
+                pos: wpos.with_z(world.sim().get_alt_approx(wpos.as_()).unwrap_or(0.0)),
+            });
+        }
+
+        for (entity, client, pos) in (&entities, &clients, &positions).join() {
+            if entity.id() as u64 % 30 == tick.0 % 30 {
+                let weather = grid.get_interpolated(pos.0.xy());
+                client.send_fallible(ServerGeneral::LocalWindUpdate(weather.wind));
             }
-            sim.tick(&game_time, &outcomes, &mut grid, &world);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/voxygen/src/scene/figure/mod.rs b/voxygen/src/scene/figure/mod.rs
index 5060cf6bcc..26a2094eff 100644
--- a/voxygen/src/scene/figure/mod.rs
+++ b/voxygen/src/scene/figure/mod.rs
@@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ impl FigureMgr {
             // Are shadows enabled at all?
             let can_shadow_sun = renderer.pipeline_modes().shadow.is_map() && is_daylight;
 
-            let weather = scene_data.state.weather_at(cam_pos.xy());
+            let weather = scene_data.client.weather_at_player();
 
             let cam_pos = math::Vec3::from(cam_pos);
 
diff --git a/voxygen/src/scene/mod.rs b/voxygen/src/scene/mod.rs
index 167913f647..a813459769 100644
--- a/voxygen/src/scene/mod.rs
+++ b/voxygen/src/scene/mod.rs
@@ -1198,7 +1198,7 @@ impl Scene {
             .max_weather_near(focus_off.xy() + cam_pos.xy());
         self.wind_vel = weather.wind_vel();
         if weather.rain > RAIN_THRESHOLD {
-            let weather = client.state().weather_at(focus_off.xy() + cam_pos.xy());
+            let weather = client.weather_at_player();
             let rain_vel = weather.rain_vel();
             let rain_view_mat = math::Mat4::look_at_rh(look_at, look_at + rain_vel, up);
 
diff --git a/voxygen/src/scene/terrain.rs b/voxygen/src/scene/terrain.rs
index 52f595eac0..1a09c74752 100644
--- a/voxygen/src/scene/terrain.rs
+++ b/voxygen/src/scene/terrain.rs
@@ -1580,7 +1580,7 @@ impl<V: RectRasterableVol> Terrain<V> {
                 min: visible_bounding_box.min.as_::<f64>(),
                 max: visible_bounding_box.max.as_::<f64>(),
             };
-            let weather = scene_data.state.weather_at(focus_off.xy() + cam_pos.xy());
+            let weather = scene_data.client.weather_at_player();
             let ray_direction = math::Vec3::<f32>::from(weather.rain_vel().normalized());
 
             // NOTE: We use proj_mat_treeculler here because