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4w ago

WMO Confirms 829-Kilometer Lightning Record

Satellite data-driven verification has led the WMO to update its lightning-extremes database with the 2017 megablitz.

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Der längste Blitz der Welt erstreckte sich über 829 Kilometer - dies hat die Weltorganisation für Meteorologie (WMO) bestätigt. Das Rekord-Wetterereignis wurde am 22. Oktober 2017 im Bereich der Great Plains in den USA beobachtet.

Overview

  • The WMO officially recognized a 829-kilometer-long lightning flash that occurred in October 2017 between eastern Texas and near Kansas City.
  • Satellite measurements confirmed the discharge lasted 7.8 seconds with a ±8 kilometer margin of error matching previous record assessments.
  • The WMO Committee for Weather Extremes validated the event through post-event geostationary satellite analysis.
  • High-resolution satellite technology has enabled detection of rare megablitz events that were previously undetectable.
  • The WMO is advocating continued satellite monitoring to discover potential larger lightning extremes and guide safety measures.