Data of lightning location (2007—2010) and thunderstorm day (1961—2010) from 52 ADTD lightning detection stations are used to analyze characteristics of lightning parameters for five provinces (Hunan,Hubei,Anhui,Jiangxi,Henan) in central China.Results show that lightning parameters present different variation patterns in latitudes on the northern and southern side of 30.8±0.2°N.In latitude from 36.4°N to 30.8°N,the positive lightning intensity descends,with small positive lightning gradient change and average value of 16.48 kA·μs^-1.While the negative lightning intensity and gradient reach maximum at 32°N and then fall rapidly at 30.8°N.The occurrence time of maximum and minimum lightning frequency shows a decentralized appearance in a day,and the thunderstorm day starts from approximately April 5 and ends at approximately September 17 in a year.While in latitude from 30.8°N to 24.4°N,both the positive and negative lightning intensity increase,but the positive one increases rapidly from 52.11 kA to 77.88kA and the negative one increases slowly.The positive lightning gradient has small change with average value of 14.24 kA·μs^-1,and the negative lightning gradient decreases from 12.07 kA·μs^-1 to 8.90 kA·μs^-1.Most lightning occurs on 15:00—16:00,and the least lightning occurs on 8:00—10:00 in a day,the thunderstorm day starts from about February 18 and ends at about October 17 in a year.