The World Meteorological Organization has confirmed a new record for the longest lightning bolt ever recorded. The megaflash, spanning 515 miles (829 kilometers) across five Great Plains states, was detected using data from a geostationary satellite. The previous record was 477 miles (768 km). The October 2017 event was too extensive for ground-based sensors to fully measure. This discovery highlights advancements in weather monitoring and underscores the potential danger of lightning striking far from its origin storm.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.