This storm detector electronic project it's in fact an receiver tuned to 300 kHz designed to detect the crackle of approaching lightning. A bright lamp flashes in synchrony with the lightning bolts indicating the proximity and intensity of the storm.
The flasher is biased to not flash until a burst of RF energy, amplified by the 2N3904, is applied to the base of the 2N4403.
To increase sensitivity of this storm detector you must use a longer antenna.
Adjustment of storm detector is very simple : adjust the potentiometer until the flashing is stopped .
When storm detector it's adjusted, the lamp will occasionally flash when big electrical motors or appliances switch on and off and an approaching storm will give quite a show. Adjust the pot with no antenna if lightning is nearby.
Electronic parts required by this electronic project are : L1 10mH; L2 330uH; R1 180k; R2 3.9k; R3 22k; R4 2.2k; R5 2.7k; R6 47 ohmi; C1 680pF; C2,C3 0.01uF; C4 0.005uF; C8 100uF ; C9 1uf; D1 1N914; Q1,Q3,Q4 2N4401; Q2 2N4403; R10(pot) 20k.

Circuit Diagram: