A former New York City firefighter managed to photograph what he says is a gigantic 10-mile-long lightning bolt above Long Island, on Wednesday night, August 13. The video shows a huge lightning bolt light up the sky, almost like daytime. Gunther shared the clip on Islandwide Weather’s Facebook page, who said it was ONE OF THE SICKEST BOLTS OF LIGHTNING I’VE EVER SEEN ON LONG ISLAND!!!!!!

The 10-mile length hasn't been confirmed, but the amazing sight quickly went viral because so many people were impressed by how big and clear the strike was.

Speaking to the New York Post, Gunther said he immediately took out his iPhone when the storm started. "I just grabbed my iPhone and I just stick [stuck] it on the windowsill in my bedroom facing south with the widest angle, and I just had it recorded," he said.

To get the lightning in sharper focus, Gunther switched off all the lights in his room and remained quiet. "And then suddenly I saw that lightning and I said, Oh my God, I think I just got that! And I went back and watched it and I said, Holy cow, that is freaking amazing," he said.

Out Of Frame And Out Of Scale

The bolt was so huge, his phone could not record it in its entirety. "It actually went out of frame. That thing had to be 10 miles wide," he said. He further added that the strike was followed by rather gentle thunder. "And that one wasn't even that much of a clap of thunder. But the one before that was, that's the one that shook the house," he said.

There were varied reactions to the viral video, from awe to fear. Some concerned viewers feared the lightning was an indication of intensifying climate extremes, with one commenter noting, "Not sure this is a good sign for Earth."

Another viewer admitted, "I thought a nuke went off. I didn't know what to do." Others cheered the once-in-a-lifetime event, with one saying, "Mother Nature gave us a pretty show," and another saying their outdoor light sensor "flickered like crazy every time a bolt zipped across the sky."