770-Kilometre Megaflash Sets New Lightning World Record

On Tuesday, February 1, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) confirmed that a lightning strike in the US set a new world record.

The strike occurred in Louisiana on April 29, 2020 and soared across the sky for nearly 770 kilometers (around 477 miles).

Dubbed a megaflash, which is a lightning strike that can 'extend for hundreds of miles', the bolt broke records for the longest distance flash.

Check it out:

The news was shared to the WMO's Twitter, telling followers that the record-breaking flash had been verified.

According to reports, the megaflash had a distance of around 770-kilometres, which is similar to the space between New York and Columbus, Ohio.

While the strike broke the record for distance, it didn't last as long as other flashes - that title went to another megaflash that occurred over Uruguay and Northern Paraguay, first documented on October 31, 2018.

That flash lasted for 17.102 seconds, which beat the previous record holder by 0.37 seconds.

Arizona State University's Randall Cerveny spoke of the two lightning strikes, explaining: 'These two lightning flash records are absolutely extraordinary, Both were cloud-to-cloud, several thousand feet above the ground, so no one was in danger'.

Cerveny went on to say that by continuing to study lightning, we can learn more about how it works, while affirming these recent findings were important pieces of information for public safety.

'These findings are also important to the general public as a stark reminder that lightning can strike far away from the parent source region', he added.

While neither incident were confirmed to be linked to climate change, extreme weather - including heavy storms with thunder and lightning - occurs across the world every year.

Lightning specialist Ron Holle explained how to stay safe during a lightning storm: 'The only lightning safe locations are substantial buildings that have wiring and plumbing structures; not structures such as at a beach or bus stop'.

If you are unable to find a lightning-safe building, another option is 'inside an enclosed metal-topped vehicle; not dune buggies or motorcycles'.

While lightning strikes can seem frightening and elusive, we are able to better understand these events thanks to advancements in lightning tracking technology.

Due to these advances, scientists can use Geostationary Lightening Mappers on satellites that orbit in space to collect data on lightning strikes like these.

Speaking of the new technology, expert Michael J Peterson said the developments allow scientists to better understand lightning's behaviour.

He noted: 'We are now at a place where we have excellent measurements of its [lightning's] many facets, which allow us to discover surprising new aspects of its behaviour'.

Cerveny supported this, saying 'it is likely that even greater extremes still exist, and that we are able to observe them as lightning technology improves'.

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