The Incredible Records of Lightning Strikes: Distance and Duration
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Chapter 1: The Fascinating Nature of Lightning
Lightning is among the most awe-inspiring yet dangerous phenomena of nature. While most lightning strikes last merely one or two seconds and travel a few miles, two extraordinary lightning bolts have dramatically exceeded these norms.
During a massive thunderstorm in southern Brazil on October 31, 2018, a lightning bolt stretched an incredible 440.6 miles (709 km), traversing from the Atlantic Ocean, across Brazil, and into Argentina. This remarkable distance is comparable to the span between Boston and Washington, D.C. This bolt surpassed the previous record, which had been set on June 20, 2007, when lightning traveled 199.5 miles (321 km) over Oklahoma.
Furthermore, another lightning event holds the record for the longest duration of a lightning flash. On March 4, 2019, a flash over northern Argentina lasted an astonishing 16.73 seconds, more than doubling the prior record of 7.74 seconds, which had been documented in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France, in 2012. Both of these remarkable records have been officially recognized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Committee on Weather and Climate Extremes.
Section 1.1: Understanding the Phenomenon
These extraordinary lightning occurrences are the result of a large assembly of thunderstorms that act in unison, a phenomenon referred to as a "Mesoscale Convective System" (MCS). Such systems facilitate a significant accumulation of electrical charge, allowing for lightning to strike both for extended durations and over great distances. These storms can measure up to 60 miles (96.6 km) wide and can extend for hundreds of miles, particularly during the summer months. The massive lightning strikes associated with these storms are termed "megaflashes," which often spread horizontally. South America, remarkably, is particularly well-suited for these colossal storms.
The lightning events have been tracked by the GOES-16 weather satellite, which monitors lightning activity across North and South America. Equipped with an instrument known as the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), the satellite detects the light emitted from lightning both day and night at the cloud tops.
This first video discusses the record-setting lightning events, including the longest distance and duration ever documented.
Section 1.2: Grim Records and Safety Measures
The WMO maintains some unfortunate records pertaining to lightning extremes. The highest number of fatalities caused by a direct lightning strike occurred in 1975 in Zimbabwe, where 21 individuals lost their lives due to a single flash while seeking shelter in a hut. Additionally, the most casualties from an indirect lightning strike happened in Dronka, Egypt, in 1994, when 469 individuals were killed after lightning ignited oil tanks, resulting in burning oil flooding the town.
Given the hazards posed by lightning, the WMO recommends adhering to the 30–30 rule: if the interval between seeing lightning and hearing thunder is less than 30 seconds, individuals should seek indoor shelter for at least 30 minutes following the last observed flash.
The second video highlights the shocking record of the longest lightning bolt, which stretched an astonishing 477 miles across three states.
Chapter 2: Exploring More Facts About Lightning
Want to explore additional intriguing facts? Check out Knowledge Stew’s Fact World on Medium.