The Mind Unleashed By
Normally, lightning flashes last less than a second and don’t stretch more than 10 miles.
In the southern United States, a mind-blowing lightning mega-flash that snaked over three states just set a new world record.
A megaflash does not go from cloud to earth like standard bolts do. Almost instantly, it flows from one electrified cloud to the next, creating an immense electric zigzag pattern. It is possible for a megaflash to travel hundreds of miles and illuminate the sky for more than 10 seconds if a thunderstorm system is large enough.
On April 29, 2020, this occurred over the US south. In northeastern Mississippi, a huge bolt of lightning slithered through thunderstorm clouds. That’s the distance between New York City and Columbus, Ohio (477 miles/768 kilometers).
