World's Longest Lightning Bolt Traveled Nearly 200 Miles

Even among lightning, these two bolts shone bright. For the first time ever, the World Meteorological Organization has added official records for lightning to its list of notable temperatures, winds, and rains, USA Today reports. That means we now know the longest traveling lightning bolt was over Oklahoma in June 2007. According to Science, it started just outside Tulsa and traveled 199.5 miles, nearly reaching the Texas border. Along the way, it sent 13 different bolts streaking to the ground. Meanwhile, the longest lasting lightning bolt lit up the sky over France for 7.74 seconds in August 2012. Impressive stuff, considering most bolts last less than a second and travel no further than a few miles. (More lightning stories.)