less than a second

A lightning strike usually lasts less than a second.

a few tens of milliseconds (thousandths of a second).

The difference in those numbers arises from the fact that a lightning strike only lasts a matter of a few tens of milliseconds (thousandths of a second).

of a second

Lightning strikes, lasting less than a half-millionth of a second, often scorch the skin but don’t cause internal burns.

up to 2 seconds

“A lightning strike made up of several discharges can last up to 2 seconds.

up to nine hours

Here, lightning occurs up to 300 nights a year, lasting up to nine hours with a rate of 250 lightning flashes per square kilometer — earning square kilometer's spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.

of 1-2 microseconds

Lightning strikes have an average lifespan of 1-2 microseconds.