This might sound like something from a science fiction movie, but researchers have confirmed a shocking lightning flash that spanned across the central United States. This single, unbroken strike stretched an astonishing 829 kilometers, from eastern Texas all the way to just outside Kansas City, Missouri. It has now been officially recognized by the World Meteorological Organization as the longest lightning strike to be ever documented in the whole of history.
The event took place during a vast and complex thunderstorm system back in 2017. However, its full scale was only recently confirmed, thanks to cutting edge satellite technology.
“What we have here is a newly verified, record-setting lightning flash,” said Michael Peterson, Senior Research Scientist at Georgia Tech Research Institute. “We refer to these as mega flashes because they’re far more extensive and dangerous than typical lightning.”
This discovery shows the power of space based lightning trackers in determining weather science. While ground systems give detailed measurements in focused areas, satellites offer a panoramic view of entire storm systems, showing a more detailed version. This wide ranging perspective enables scientists to capture massive weather phenomena that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Experts say this technological advancement was crucial in pinpointing the 829 kilometer lightning event. Without satellite observation, ground based detectors likely would have missed it, unless the storm had passed directly overhead.
