Recent studies conducted by NCHRP’s Michael Peterson and his associates have found something thrilling. Their documentation of this unprecedented new record for positive lightning was published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. The research describes one of the longest megaflashes ever recorded. This term describes lightning bolts that exceed distances of 60 miles (100 kilometers). Something remarkable happened on one of the most intense thunderstorms of this period on October 24, 2017. This event demonstrated an exceptional horizontal reach of 515 miles, setting a new record by 38 miles.
Randy Cerveny, who is the rapporteur for weather and climate extremes at the World Meteorological Organization. He stressed that these findings are crucial. That lightning event—the previous record megaflash—occurred during a summer thunderstorm in the southern United States, in April 2020. It turned into an incredible 477-mile long stretch! Over half of all normal lightning flashes don’t travel more than 10 miles. Upon closer inspection, megaflashes are truly odd and interesting occurrences in meteorology.
Understanding Megaflashes
Megaflashes are not only remarkable for the distances they reach. They embody a different, megaflashy behavior of storms. According to Peterson’s analysis, this extreme form of lightning occurs in less than 1% of thunderstorms. These storms are extraordinarily persistent. They typically fly for 14 hours or more and at times, conduct operations over areas the size of New Jersey.
Each average megaflash sends out five to seven branches that hit the ground. This results in a beautiful and complex web of electrical discharge that wraps around the sky. The results show just how much these strong bolts can reach away from their parent thunderstorm. Few people will ever come to understand this intriguing detail. Cerveny underscored the need to know exactly how far a lightning strike can travel. Yet every year, lightning kills 20 to 30 individuals in the United States and injures hundreds more.
Advances in Weather Tracking
The most important breakthrough in tracking technology was the use of radar to help visualize the atmospheric conditions that produce these extreme lightning events. NOAA’s GOES-16 satellite is parked in geostationary orbit above the eastern U.S. It’s a task that entails capturing more than one million lightning flashes each and every day! This satellite is the most recent of four NOAA satellites in an operational series. These satellites carry geostationary lightning mappers, allowing us to monitor and analyze the occurrence and behavior of lightning activity with unprecedented detail.
Collectively, these tracking systems have transformed meteorological research, enabling scientists to see patterns and behaviors of lightning as they happen. This unique ability to witness extreme phenomenon gives us a much better understanding of storm dynamics. In doing so, it underscores their nefarious impacts on communities.
Implications for Safety and Awareness
The implications of the discovery that megaflashes are an extremely rare phenomenon are enormous on the fronts of both public safety and public awareness. As Cerveny has pointed out before, most people don’t realize just how far lightning can strike from the storm it started in. Not understanding this can create hazardous and even deadly circumstances, especially in environments like the outdoors where people may be caught off guard by incoming storms.
Moreover, meteorologists are hard at work trying to understand extreme weather events. Victor and Jennifer’s ultimate goal is to raise awareness about the true dangers posed by lightning. Further education on safe practices during thunderstorms increases awareness and reduces the dangers of lightning strikes.
