WMO Recognizes New Lightning Record Set in 2017
61 km Longer Than the Previous 2020 Record
A new world record has been set for the longest lightning bolt ever recorded.
On July 31 (local time), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced that a lightning bolt measuring 829 km in length, with a margin of error of ±8 km, has established a new record for the longest lightning bolt.
This lightning bolt occurred on October 22, 2017, stretching from eastern Texas in the United States to near Kansas City. This distance is equivalent to the stretch between Paris, France and Venice, Italy. To cover such a distance, it would take about 8 to 9 hours by car or at least 90 minutes by plane.
The new record surpasses the previous one by 61 km. The former record was held by a lightning bolt that occurred on April 29, 2020, spanning parts of the southern United States, measuring 768 ± 8 km. At that time, the lightning bolt crossed several states, including Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
The WMO's Committee on Weather and Climate Extremes stated that the new record was recognized with the help of advanced satellite technology. This finding was published in the bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. The reason it took eight years for the record to be officially recognized is that detailed analysis of this lightning bolt only became possible recently thanks to new technologies such as the latest geostationary operational environmental satellites. The WMO explained, "The 2017 lightning bolt is notable because it was recorded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s latest Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-16) as a lightning 'megaflash' (a lightning discharge of exceptionally long duration or distance)." This lightning bolt was not identified in the 2017 analysis but was discovered later during a re-examination of the thunderstorm.
Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the WMO, stated, "Lightning is a source of wonder, but it is also a major hazard that claims many lives around the world every year." She warned, "In particular, megaflashes can travel extremely long distances, significantly impacting the aviation sector and causing wildfires." She added, "This discovery highlights the importance of safety awareness regarding thunderstorms capable of producing such lightning."
Meanwhile, the record for the longest-lasting lightning bolt was set on June 18, 2020, in South America, when a lightning bolt lasted for 17.1 seconds.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
