- The longest lightning strike on record measured 829 kilometers and crossed several U.S. states.
- It was detected after analyzing satellite data and not in real time.
- The World Meteorological Organization certified the record and warned of its impact.
- Megaflashes are extremely rare but potentially dangerous phenomena.
An extraordinary meteorological event lit up the American sky a few years ago, although its true magnitude went unnoticed until recently. This is a phenomenon whose scope defies all previous records: an electric shock traveled 829 kilometers between East Texas and the outskirts of Kansas City during a major storm in October 2017. The distance covered by this “megaflash” is equivalent to that between cities like Paris and Venice or crossing the Iberian Peninsula from end to end.
Confirmation of this world record for the longest lightning bolt It came after an exhaustive analysis of historical climate data, which shows that Today's technology is capable of revealing hidden phenomena that until recently eluded direct observation. Without making much of a splash at the time, this extraordinary lightning bolt has been recognized as the longest ever measured, marking a turning point in the study of atmospheric electricity.
How was the longest lightning bolt detected?
Identifying this megaflash was no easy task. It was not a fortuitous discovery, but rather the result of reviewing information collected by state-of-the-art geostationary satellites, such as GOES-16, along with Earth observation systems. It was only after combining this data and applying new computing tools that scientists They were able to reconstruct the trajectory of a single extraordinary electrical discharge which, in just seven seconds, crossed four American states.
The phenomenon was so unusual and widespread that was not recorded in real time, not even in the initial analyses of the storm. Only years later, the work of researcher Michael Peterson and other experts allowed its existence to be officially certified. The margin of error in the measurement, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), is only 8 kilometers, but still easily surpasses the previous record of 768 kilometers, also registered in the United States.
What makes megaflashes possible
Not all lightning bolts become gigantic “megaflashes.” Most lightning strikes only cover about 16 or 20 miles. from its source cloud. For such a phenomenon to occur, a group of organized storms (known as a mesoscale convective system) covering vast areas and remaining active for many hours is necessary. Fewer than 1% of storms generate the conditions for these massive lightning strikes, a phenomenon whose formation is still shrouded in mystery.
In the case of the record, the ray traveled horizontally through the atmosphere, without ever touching the ground, making its detection even more difficult. At least 116 secondary discharges were generated along its path. And although the linear distance was 829 kilometers, if the zigzag of its actual path were followed, the total length could have been even greater.
"This is a phenomenon that goes beyond the ordinary and demonstrates that the limits of what's possible in meteorology can still surprise us," explain experts from the WMO and the American Meteorological Society, the organizations responsible for validating and disseminating these extreme records.
Risks and challenges for public safety
Beyond the astonishment caused by a lightning bolt of such size, the WMO has taken advantage of this discovery to draw attention to the risks associated with lightning and the need for preventive measures. Every year, these phenomena are responsible for hundreds of deaths worldwide, as well as fires, damage to infrastructure, and serious incidents in sectors such as aviation.
Megaflashes, due to their ability to travel long distances, can cause wildfires far from the storm's core and pose an unexpected danger to those who believe they are safe. Hence the authorities' insistence on developing and expanding early warning systems and on the importance of not underestimating the threat: Even when the storm appears to be moving away, electricity can linger in the air for quite some time..
When is it safe to take shelter?
Experts recommend that if you experience any sign of a storm or lightning strikes nearby (less than 10 kilometers away), seek shelter in solid buildings with wiring and plumbing systems, or inside vehicles with metal roofs and closed windows. Open structures, makeshift shelters, and vehicles without metal shielding—such as motorcycles—offer no protection from electric shocks. Walt Lyons, WMO meteorologist, It is advisable to wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunderclap before returning outside..
The role of early warning systems and public education has become crucial with the recognition of these large-scale phenomena. According to WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo, the new record should also serve as a warning about the ability of lightning to travel enormous distances and impact key human activities.
Other extreme data: death rays and duration records
The record for the longest lightning bolt is not the only documented milestone in electrical phenomena. There are equally shocking records, like the longest lasting lightning, which in June 2020 It stretched for more than 17 seconds between Uruguay and northern Argentina.Among the most tragic cases are the fatal lightning strike in Zimbabwe in 1975, which killed 21 people, and the one that occurred in Egypt in 1994, when a lightning strike caused a fire in oil tanks, killing 469 people.
This recent record ultimately proves that Little that we still know about the behavior of lightning and the value of new technologies for tracking phenomena that could change our understanding of the climate. Weather extremes are becoming increasingly observable, and understanding them protects lives and advances disaster prediction and prevention.
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