According to the World Meteorological Organization, a lightning bolt that spanned 768 kilometres (477.2 miles) across the southern United States in 2020 set a new world record for the longest single flash (WMO).
On April 29, 2020, a mega flash swept across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, breaking the previous record of 709 kilometres (440.6 miles) set in Brazil on October 31, 2018, according to the United Nations.
A single lightning flash over Uruguay and northern Argentina on June 18, 2020, lasted 17.1 seconds, breaking the previous record of 16.7 seconds, according to the WMO.
WMO has verified 2 new world records for a⚡️lightning #megaflash
Longest distance single flash of 768 km (477.2 miles) across southern #USA – 60 kilometres MORE than old record
Greatest duration of 17.102 seconds over #Uruguay and northern #Argentina https://t.co/6AzyzTgMIO pic.twitter.com/VqUgxEDHB2— World Meteorological Organization (@WMO) February 1, 2022
The Committee on Weather and Climate Extremes of the World Meteorological Organization published its findings in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.
The two records were regarded as “exceptional” by Professor Randall Cerveny, WMO’s rapporteur on weather and climate extremes.
“Environmental extremes are living evaluations of nature’s power, as well as scientific advancement in making such judgments,” he explained. “It’s conceivable that even bigger extremes occur, and that as lightning detection technology develops, we’ll be able to monitor them.”
“These extraordinarily huge and long-duration lightning incidents were not isolated but happened during intense thunderstorms,” said Ron Holle, a lightning specialist and committee member. When thunder is heard, it’s time to get to a lightning-safe location.”
“The only lightning-safe areas are major buildings with electrical and plumbing; not structures like a beach or bus stop,” he noted. Inside a properly covered metal-topped vehicle (not dune buggies or motorcycles) is the second most reliable safe spot.
“Go to the lightning safe facility or vehicle if lightning is near 10 kilometres [6.2 miles], as determined by credible lightning data.” Lightning can strike over a vast distance in seconds, as these extreme occurrences demonstrate, but it is often embedded within larger thunderstorms, so be cautious.”
