The Longest Lightning Bolt Ever Recorded — 515 Miles Across the Sky! On October 22, 2017, a single lightning flash stretched a jaw-dropping 515 miles (829 km) across the United States — from eastern Texas to near Kansas City, Missouri. 🌩️ Recently confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization, this “megaflash” now holds the world record for the longest lightning bolt ever observed, beating the previous 2020 record of 477 miles. The flash lasted just 7 seconds, but its reach was so massive