Russian scientists recorded the longest thunderstorm in the high-latitude Arctic

The press service of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute reported that the scientists of the Institute recorded the longest thunderstorm in the history of observations in the high-latitude Arctic. Its duration was 55 minutes. The data were recorded in July last year at the largest Russian hydrometeorological observatory Cape Baranov Ice Base on Severnaya Zemlya.

"Thunderstorms unusual for the high-latitude Arctic have been recorded in the past few years. The first official data on thunderstorms in this region were noted in June 2019 on Bolshevik Island - then the thunderstorm lasted 40 minutes. In 2021, scientists observed an atmospheric phenomenon twice - in late June and early July; the duration of the thunderstorm was 40 and 25 minutes, respectively. In 2022, the thunderstorm period was the longest in the entire history of observations," the research institute said.

According to scientists, the fact that storm clouds have reached the high latitudes of the Arctic indicates changes in atmospheric circulation. Climate warming in the Arctic has led to the appearance of nimbostratus and powerful cumulus clouds, typical of the middle and southern latitudes. They play a key role in the formation of a thundercloud.