"Unprecedented Lightning Storm Unleashed by Volcanic Eruption"

The eruption of the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai triggered the most intense lightning storm ever recorded, according to a study published in Geophysical Research Letters. The eruption sent millions of tons of ash, dust, and superheated water into the atmosphere, creating an umbrella cloud. Lightning strikes occurred at an unprecedented rate, with approximately 2,600 strikes per minute during the peak. The lightning also occurred at significantly higher altitudes than usual, suggesting that volcanoes can create their own weather systems.