Lightning Breaks Record with 829-KM Strike Over U.S.

(MENAFN) A staggering new world record has been officially confirmed for the longest lightning flash ever documented—an immense 829 kilometers (515 miles) in length—stretching across the southern United States during a powerful October 2017 storm.

The megaflash lit up the skies over the U.S. Great Plains, extending from eastern Texas all the way to near Kansas City. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which certified the event on Thursday, compared the lightning bolt’s reach to the distance between Paris and Venice.

"It would take a car about eight to nine hours and a commercial plane at least 90 minutes to cover that distance," the WMO explained in a statement.

"Lightning is a source of wonder but also a major hazard that claims many lives around the world every year and is therefore one of the priorities for the international Early Warnings for All initiative," said Celeste Saulo, who leads the UN agency.

Saulo added that these findings raise urgent safety concerns, especially for the aviation industry and regions vulnerable to wildfires, given that lightning can emerge from clouds capable of producing ultra-long flashes.

The record was confirmed using satellite data collected by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It surpasses the previous megaflash—measured at 768 kilometers (477 miles)—that occurred in the same region in April 2020.

"This new record clearly demonstrates the incredible power of the natural environment," said Professor Randall Cerveny, the WMO rapporteur on weather and climate extremes. He also noted the potential for even more extreme lightning phenomena that have yet to be observed.

Lightning expert Walt Lyons issued a warning, emphasizing that true safety from lightning can only be found in substantial structures equipped with wiring and plumbing, or in fully enclosed vehicles with metal roofs.

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