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New World Record-Longest 'Megaflash' Lightning Confirmed. It Covered A Distance From East Texas To Near Kansas City

A megaflash is a lightning discharge of very long distance and/or duration that satellites can detect. A reanalysis of a megaflash from October 2017 has been deemed a new world record.

By Chris Dolce • August 6, 2025

Lightning Megaflash Sets World Record

Scientists have confirmed a new world record for the longest lightning flash in a thunderstorm complex, which hit the Great Plains 8 years ago this fall.

The so-called megaflash lightning extended a distance of 515 miles from northeast Texas to near Kansas City on Oct. 22, 2017, according to the findings by Georgia Tech researchers who were supported by NASA . It lasted 7.39 seconds

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