A single lightning bolt that leapt across three U.S. states has been identified as the longest ever, the U.N. weather agency said on Tuesday.
Dubbed a megaflash, the rare low-rate horizontal discharge covered 768 kilometres between clouds in Texas and Mississippi in April 2020. It was detectedusing satellite technology and its distance - beating the previous record by 60km - confirmed by a World Meteorological Organization committee.
"That trip by air would take a couple of hours and in this case the distance was covered in a matter of seconds," WMO spokesperson Clare Nullis said.Another megaflash that occurred above Uruguay and Argentina in June 2020 also set a new record, as the longest-lasting at 17.1 seconds, the WMO said. While these two newly catalogued megaflashes never touched the ground, they serve as a reminder of the dangers of a weather phenomenon that kill hundreds of people a year.
"We reiterate our message: when thunder roars, when you see lightning – go indoors. Don’t seek shelter in a beach hut, don't stand under a tree," Nullis said.Reporting by Emma Farge; editing by John StonestreetSubscribe to our daily curated newsletter to receive the latest exclusive Reuters coverage delivered to your inbox.
México Últimas Noticias, México Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Lightning flash measuring 768 kilometres is the longest ever recordedTwo record-breaking lightning flashes occurred in 2020: one with a length of 768 km is the longest ever recorded, while another with a duration of 17 seconds is the longest lasting flash ever detected
Leer más »
Lightning flash measuring 768 kilometres is the longest ever recordedTwo record-breaking lightning flashes occurred in 2020: one with a length of 768 km is the longest ever recorded, while another with a duration of 17 seconds is the longest lasting flash ever detected
Leer más »
Longest lightning bolt record: 477 miles over 3 statesA bolt of lightning that stretched nearly 500 miles across three states is the new record holder for longest flash.
Leer más »
Longest Lightning Bolt Record: 477 Miles Over 3 StatesA bolt of lightning that stretched nearly 500 miles across three states is the new record holder for longest flash
Leer más »
World Record Lightning Bolt Stretched Across Texas, 2 Other States In 2020The single flash extended 477.2 miles across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi in April 2020, the World Meteorological Organization said Monday, Jan. 31.
Leer más »
477-mile lightning bolt spanning 3 states sets world recordThe April 2020 flash across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi overtook the previous max set in Brazil in 2018, meteorology group says.
Leer más »