Scientists uncover a sky monster; lightning megaflash so massive it spanned hundreds of miles and 5 US states
The incredible bolt stretched from Texas to near Kansas City in 2017, but took years to confirm due to the complexities of satellite data and evolving lightning science.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has confirmed a new world record for the longest single lightning flash ever recorded, an astonishing 829 kilometers (515 miles). This 'megaflash' lit up the sky during a powerful thunderstorm on 22 October 2017, spanning from eastern Texas to near Kansas City, Missouri. That's roughly the distance between Paris and Venice, and more equivalent to Toronto to New York.The lightning event was so vast that it would take a car around 8–9 hours to cover that route on the ground, or a commercial airplane about 90 minutes in the sky.
Also Read: Not Big Bang, new theory uses 'Gravity' and 'Quantum Physics' to explain the universe's birthWhile the lightning occurred in 2017, it wasn't until 2025 that it was officially recognized as the longest-ever lightning flash recorded. So, why the delay? The answer lies in technology and data analysis.
At the time, scientists didn't have the tools or processing power to detect such a massive lightning flash. It was only after a re-examination of satellite data from the storm, using more advanced methods, that the enormous scale of the flash was finally revealed. The record was published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.
Traditionally, ground-based systems like the Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) were used to track lightning. These systems have limitations; they can only "see" lightning within a certain distance. That means extra-long lightning flashes could be missed or only partially recorded.The WMO press release said that the breakthrough came with the launch of GOES-16, a US weather satellite equipped with Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) technology.
It offers a bird's-eye view of thunderstorms over large areas. GOES-16, along with newer satellites like GOES-17, 18, and 19, made it possible to detect the full extent of the 2017 megaflash. The WMO says this record isn't just about numbers it highlights real safety risks. Lightning can strike far from where a storm seems to be.These rare 'megaflashes' can travel hundreds of kilometers away from the main thundercloud, potentially affecting aircraft, starting wildfires, or catching people off guard.'Lightning is a source of wonder but also a major hazard that claims many lives around the world every year,' said Celeste Saulo, WMO Secretary-General.The WMO keeps an official archive of lightning extremes. Here are a few records: Longest-lasting lightning flash: 17.1 seconds, recorded over Uruguay and Argentina in 2020.
Most people killed by one strike: 21 people in a hut in Zimbabwe in 1975.
Deadliest indirect strike: 469 people died in Dronka, Egypt, in 1994 after lightning struck oil tanks, causing a deadly fire.
Scientists believe even longer lightning flashes could exist. As satellite technology improves and data grows, more megaflashes may become apparent.'Extreme lightning events push the limits of what we can observe,' said Michael Peterson, lead author of the WMO evaluation and lightning researcher at Georgia Tech, in the press release.'With better tools and more data, we're just beginning to understand the full power of these natural phenomena.'Experts warn that the only truly safe places during a thunderstorm are inside buildings with plumbing and wiring or in metal-roofed vehicles. Tents, sheds, open beaches, and motorcycles offer no protection.
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