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World Meteorological Organization Certifies Mega flash Lightning Record | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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World Meteorological Organization Certifies Mega flash Lightning Record

Posted 07 Aug 2025

2 min read

Longest single Lightning flash of 829 km in USA (2017) extending eastern Texas to near Kansas City sets new record. 

About Lightning

  • Occurrence: It is a giant spark of electricity that occurs when opposite charges’ build up becomes very large between the clouds or between cloud and ground. 
    • This built up of charge breaks the insulating property of air causing lightning. 
  • Impact: Lightning causes Thunder as it rapidly heats the air around it, causing its expansion producing a loud sound. 
    • Storm accompanied by lightning and thunder is thunderstorm.
  • Causes: Warming (1 degree rise in temperature, causes rise in lightning from 7% to 18% in India), Pollution (rise in aerosol levels), urbanisation, etc. 
  • Trends in India: 57% rise in incidents from 2019- 2024 (India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Climate Resilient Observation- Systems Promotion Council (CROPC))
  • Key Hazards: Electric fires/explosions (breakdown of insulation and short circuits) in buildings, Bursting of trees due to moisture evaporation; loss of lives, etc. 

Measures taken by India

  • NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority)
    • Two Pronged Approach: Scientific solutions and implementation among community and Climate action to reduce the occurrence. 
    • Guidelines for preparation of Action Plan on prevention and Management against Lightning and Thunderstorms (2019). 
    • Others: Protocol for dissemination of Lightning Early Warning, Mobile application SACHET, etc.
  • IMD:  Issues lightning forecasts in three modes: Lightning outlook from 5 days to 24 hours, Nowcast, Damini Mobile app.
  • Others: Three Lightning detection networks,  Network of Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs), etc. 
  • Tags :
  • IMD
  • Thunderstorm
  • Lightning
  • NDMA
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