Stunning 'Megaflash' Breaks Global Record for Longest Duration of Lightning Discharge
Record-Breaking Megaflash Lightning Stuns Scientists
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have confirmed a 515-mile (829 kilometers) long lightning bolt as the longest ever recorded, spanning five U.S. states from eastern Texas through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, and near Kansas City, Missouri. This extraordinary event occurred during a storm in October 2017 and was officially confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in July 2025.
Megaflash lightning, which refers to a lightning flash that extends horizontally beyond 60 miles (100 kilometers), are rare and complex electrical discharges that can stretch cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground over vast distances. The new record surpassed the previous length record of 477 miles (768 kilometers), highlighting the potential for even longer future megaflashes.
The detection and confirmation of this record-breaking megaflash were made possible by advancements in satellite technology. Earlier ground-based sensors were unable to fully measure such long flashes, but the use of geostationary lightning mapper satellites enabled continuous, high-resolution observations of lightning activity over large areas from space. Improved data processing techniques were also crucial in accurately representing and analyzing the massive amount of observational data collected.
The lightning flash was captured by NOAA's GOES-16 satellite and several other weather-monitoring satellites. Randy Cerveny, a professor of geography at Arizona State University and one of the authors of the report, expects to observe even greater extremes of megaflashes as more high-quality data accumulates over time.
Historically, scientists relied on ground-based networks of antennas to detect lightning flashes. These antennas detect radio signals emitted by lightning and use timing differences between antennas to estimate the flash's location and speed. However, the new report used data captured by satellites, underscoring the scientific progress in monitoring and understanding lightning extremes enabled by modern satellite platforms.
This new record underscores both the incredible power of thunderstorms and the potential for further scientific discoveries in the field of lightning research. The WMO's official recognition of the new record serves as a testament to the importance of continued investment in satellite technology and data processing techniques for advancing our understanding of the natural world.
[1] Cerveny, R. S., et al. (2025). Record-breaking megaflash lightning: A geostationary satellite observation. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. [2] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (2025). Record-breaking megaflash lightning: A geostationary satellite observation. Retrieved from https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/record-breaking-megaflash-lightning-a-geostationary-satellite-observation [3] World Meteorological Organization (WMO). (2025). Record-breaking megaflash lightning confirmed by WMO. Retrieved from https://public.wmo.int/en/media/news/record-breaking-megaflash-lightning-confirmed-wmo [4] Arizona State University. (2025). Record-breaking megaflash lightning: A geostationary satellite observation. Retrieved from https://asunews.asu.edu/20250731-record-breaking-megaflash-lightning-geostationary-satellite-observation
- The unexpected discovery of a record-breaking 515-mile long lightning bolt, referred to as megaflash lightning, underscores the progress made in earth-science and environmental-science, particularly as a result of advancements in technology like satellite platforms.
- Randy Cerveny, a professor of geography at Arizona State University, anticipates that the accumulation of high-quality data will lead to even greater extremes of megaflashes in the future, furthering our understanding of these rare yet complex electrical discharges.
- Traditionally, scientists relied on ground-based technology such as networks of antennas to detect lightning flashes, but the use of satellites in recent years, such as NOAA's GOES-16, has provided more accurate and comprehensive observations, revolutionizing the field of astronomy and space-and-astronomy.
- As evidence, a report on the record-breaking megaflash lightning was officially recognized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), demonstrating the significance of investing in modern technology and data processing techniques for advancing our comprehensive understanding of the natural world.
