Tonga's Hunga Eruption Sets Lightning Intensity Record

The January 15, 2022, eruption of Tonga's Hunga Volcano produced the most intense lightning ever recorded, with over 200,000 lightning flashes occurring throughout the eruption, peaking at more than 2,600 flashes every minute. The lightning provided new insights into the eruption's timeline, revealing previously unknown phases of the eruption and informing future volcanic hazard monitoring. The eruption lasted at least 11 hours, several hours longer than previously known, and produced the highest-altitude lightning flashes ever measured, 20 to 30 kilometers above sea level. Harnessing all the long-range observations available, including lightning, improves early detection to keep aircraft and people out of harm's way.