The longest known lightning events have been given world-record status by the World Meteorological Organization, or WMO, in a recently published study.
The longest known lightning events have been given world-record status by the World Meteorological Organization, or WMO, in a recently published study.
According to the group’s research, a lone flash over Oklahoma in 2007 is believed to have spanned a horizontal distance of nearly 200 miles.
Meanwhile, the longest single event by duration occurred over France in 2012; it reportedly lasted for 7.74 seconds.
As Science magazine reports, the team arrived at these conclusions by using data collected by outside sensors to map the origins and suspected routes of lightning bolts.
The WMO is advising the public to beware of lightning which can be far-reaching and sometimes even deadly, notes USA Today.