This paper describes the transient performance of the Egyptian 500 kV overhead transmission line (OHTL) during lightning occurrence using ATP-EMTP modeling. Induced voltages across the insulator strings are calculated. Various parameters that have a direct effect on the back flashover phenomena such as the effect of lightning stroke magnitude, the striking distance, front and tail times of lightning stroke impulse, and the tower footing ground system are discussed. Surge arresters were used in this work as a solution for back flashover. The performance of OHTL after connecting surge arrestors has been studied at the instant of the lightning stroke occurrence.