World's longest lightning megaflash recorded at 829 km, breaking previous 768 km world record
An extraordinary natural event has stunned scientists and meteorologists worldwide—a record-breaking lightning megaflash stretching 829 kilometres across the skies of the United States.
This phenomenon, confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), occurred on October 22, 2017, during a powerful thunderstorm between Texas and Kansas City. For perspective, this lightning strike covered a distance greater than Delhi to Bhopal, making it one of the most astonishing examples of nature's power. The discovery came to light after advanced satellite data analysis revealed that extreme lightning events can occur beyond traditional expectations, highlighting the importance of monitoring and studying them.
World's
longest lightning Megaflash
at 829 km recorded; WMO confirms
The WMO officially recognised this lightning strike as the longest ever recorded, breaking the previous 768-kilometre record from April 2020 between Mississippi and Texas. The measurement carries a small ±8 km error margin, but it still marks a groundbreaking achievement in atmospheric science. This record shows how lightning can travel far beyond storm cores, highlighting its ability to extend across massive weather systems.
This record-setting megaflash happened during a supercell thunderstorm, one of the most intense storm types capable of producing extreme lightning. Unlike typical cloud-to-ground lightning strikes, megaflashes travel horizontally through clouds, sometimes lasting several seconds and covering hundreds of kilometres. Such events are often called 'Bolts from the Blue' because they can strike far from where the storm visually appears, posing unexpected danger to people and infrastructure.
Why are megaflashes dangerous
According to the WMO, megaflashes can be deadly and highly unpredictable especially in regions where people are unprepared for long-range lightning strikes. They can cause damage to power grids, spark wildfires, or even injure or kill people caught outdoors. To reduce risks, meteorologists are working to integrate lightning detection into the Advanced Weather Warning System by 2027, aiming to deliver faster alerts to remote and vulnerable areas.
Other lightning world records
The megaflash is just one among several extreme lightning records:
Longest lightning duration: 17.1 seconds over Uruguay and Argentina (June 2020)
Most indirect lightning deaths: 469 fatalities in Dronka, Egypt (1994), caused by lightning striking oil storage tanks
Most deaths from a single strike: 21 fatalities in Zimbabwe (1975), when lightning hit a single hut
Role of satellite technology in lightning research
The ability to detect megaflashes is relatively recent, thanks to satellite-based lightning mapping technology introduced in 2016. Before this, lightning records relied on ground-based sensors with limited coverage. With satellites, scientists now capture extreme weather events more accurately, leading to new insights into lightning behaviour. Michael Peterson from the US Severe Storms Research Centre notes that as data collection improves, more extreme lightning phenomena are expected to be recorded, helping to advance our understanding of storm dynamics and improve public safety.
Also Read |
Top 10 most powerful earthquakes in the world: Kamchatka Quake joins history's deadliest list
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Indian army searches for scores missing after deadly Himalayan flood
The Indian army brought in sniffer dogs, drones and heavy earth-moving equipment Wednesday to search for scores missing a day after a deadly Himalayan flash flood. Indian army searches for scores missing after deadly Himalayan flood At least four people were killed and around 100 are unaccounted for including 11 soldiers after a wall of muddy water and debris tore down a narrow mountain valley, smashing into the town of Dharali in Uttarakhand state. "Additional army columns, along with army tracker dogs, drones, logistic drones, earthmoving equipment etc., have been moved... to hasten the efforts", the army said Wednesday. Military helicopters were working to bring in "essential supplies, medicines and evacuation of the marooned", it added. Uttarakhand State Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the flood was caused by an intense "cloudburst" of rain, and that rescue teams had been deployed "on a war footing". Videos broadcast on Indian media showed a terrifying surge of muddy water sweeping away multi-storey apartment blocks in the tourist region on Tuesday afternoon. Several people could be seen running before being engulfed by the dark waves of debris that uprooted entire buildings. Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth told the Press Trust of India news agency late Tuesday that he had reports of "four deaths and around 100 people missing". Torrential monsoon rains continue to pour down. "Residents have been moved to higher reaches in view of rising water levels due to incessant rains", the army added. Government weather forecasters said Wednesday that all major rivers in Uttarakhand were flowing above the danger mark. Images released by the army, taken from the site after the main torrent had passed, showed a river of slow-moving mud. A large part of the town was swamped by mud, with rescue officials estimating it was 50 feet deep in places, swallowing some buildings entirely. Deadly floods and landslides are common during the monsoon season from June to September, but experts say climate change, coupled with urbanisation, is increasing their frequency and severity. The UN's World Meteorological Organization said last year that increasingly intense floods and droughts are a "distress signal" of what is to come as climate change makes the planet's water cycle ever more unpredictable. Expert hydrologist Manish Shrestha said the 270 mm of rain within 24 hours reported in the flood zone "counts as an extreme event". Shrestha, from the Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, said such rain in mountains has a "more concentrated" impact than on flatter lowlands. "Such intense rainfall events are becoming increasingly common, and could be linked to climate change", he said. pm-pzb-pjm/tym This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
World's longest lightning flash: This 'megaflash' spanned 829 kilometers; here's what you need to know
Nature never fails to surprise us, and sometimes, it happens on such a huge scale that it's nearly impossible to imagine. One such exceptional moment recently made headlines again. This was a rare and massive 'megaflash' that stretched across the sky farther than most flights travel. And while lightning is something we've all seen, this one shattered global records and reminded the world of the sheer power our atmosphere can unleash in a matter of seconds. The longest flash ever recorded Scientists have confirmed the longest lightning flash ever recorded, considering a so-called 'megaflash' that stretched an unbelievable 829 kilometres across the sky. This happened on October 22, 2017, during a massive storm between Texas and Kansas in the United States. The distance covered by this lightning is greater than that between Delhi and Bhopal. According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), this megaflash has officially broken the previous world record of 768 kilometres, which was set on April 29, 2020, in a separate storm between Mississippi and Texas. Although there is a margin of error of about ±8 km, scientists stress that this doesn't take away from the significance of the record. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo In fact, the length of the megaflash is roughly equal to stretching across multiple countries. T his extraordinary lightning event came to light during further analysis of archived data. According to WMO expert Randall Cerveny, 'Lightning can travel vast distances from the storm, which is why it's often called a 'Bolt from the Blue'." These types of lightning events, while fascinating, also carry serious risks. The WMO has warned of the dangers mega flashes can pose Especially in isolated regions where people may not be aware of approaching storms, the VMO has warned about it s potential dangers. To help reduce the risks, the organisation is planning to include global populations in its Advanced Weather Warning System by 2027. This record-setting flash isn't the only incredible lightning event recorded in recent years. Another record was set for the longest lightning duration, 17.102 seconds, during a storm on June 18, 2020, over Uruguay and northern Argentina. According to National Weather Service (NWS), NOAA, much of this new information about lightning has been made possible with the help of satellite technology introduced in 2016. As scientists are collecting more data, they're beginning to realize that these extreme events might be more common than previously thought. Michael Peterson, from the US Severe Storms Research Center, said, 'As we continue to collect data, we will likely witness even more extraordinary lightning events. '
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
World's longest lightning megaflash recorded at 829 km, breaking previous 768 km world record
Source: WMO An extraordinary natural event has stunned scientists and meteorologists worldwide—a record-breaking lightning megaflash stretching 829 kilometres across the skies of the United States. This phenomenon, confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), occurred on October 22, 2017, during a powerful thunderstorm between Texas and Kansas City. For perspective, this lightning strike covered a distance greater than Delhi to Bhopal, making it one of the most astonishing examples of nature's power. The discovery came to light after advanced satellite data analysis revealed that extreme lightning events can occur beyond traditional expectations, highlighting the importance of monitoring and studying them. World's longest lightning Megaflash at 829 km recorded; WMO confirms The WMO officially recognised this lightning strike as the longest ever recorded, breaking the previous 768-kilometre record from April 2020 between Mississippi and Texas. The measurement carries a small ±8 km error margin, but it still marks a groundbreaking achievement in atmospheric science. This record shows how lightning can travel far beyond storm cores, highlighting its ability to extend across massive weather systems. This record-setting megaflash happened during a supercell thunderstorm, one of the most intense storm types capable of producing extreme lightning. Unlike typical cloud-to-ground lightning strikes, megaflashes travel horizontally through clouds, sometimes lasting several seconds and covering hundreds of kilometres. Such events are often called 'Bolts from the Blue' because they can strike far from where the storm visually appears, posing unexpected danger to people and infrastructure. Why are megaflashes dangerous According to the WMO, megaflashes can be deadly and highly unpredictable especially in regions where people are unprepared for long-range lightning strikes. They can cause damage to power grids, spark wildfires, or even injure or kill people caught outdoors. To reduce risks, meteorologists are working to integrate lightning detection into the Advanced Weather Warning System by 2027, aiming to deliver faster alerts to remote and vulnerable areas. Other lightning world records The megaflash is just one among several extreme lightning records: Longest lightning duration: 17.1 seconds over Uruguay and Argentina (June 2020) Most indirect lightning deaths: 469 fatalities in Dronka, Egypt (1994), caused by lightning striking oil storage tanks Most deaths from a single strike: 21 fatalities in Zimbabwe (1975), when lightning hit a single hut Role of satellite technology in lightning research The ability to detect megaflashes is relatively recent, thanks to satellite-based lightning mapping technology introduced in 2016. Before this, lightning records relied on ground-based sensors with limited coverage. With satellites, scientists now capture extreme weather events more accurately, leading to new insights into lightning behaviour. Michael Peterson from the US Severe Storms Research Centre notes that as data collection improves, more extreme lightning phenomena are expected to be recorded, helping to advance our understanding of storm dynamics and improve public safety. Also Read | Top 10 most powerful earthquakes in the world: Kamchatka Quake joins history's deadliest list
