Severe Geomagnetic Storm to Hit Earth, Bringing Northern Lights to US Skies
A severe geomagnetic storm is forecast to hit Earth’s magnetic field on Wednesday, potentially causing widespread disruption to infrastructure technology and making the northern lights visible for much of the northern half of the US. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a G4, or severe, geomagnetic storm watch in response to recent coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun. CMEs are huge bubbles of coronal plasma that the sun occasionally ejects, according to NASA.
The latest CME was the “most energetic and fastest of the CMEs” that erupted in the past few days, NOAA said. It was also associated with one of the strongest solar flares of the current solar cycle, which peaked around 5 a.m. ET Tuesday and was classified as an R3 or “strong” flare. This means it has the potential to cause major disruptions to high-frequency radio on the sunlit side of Earth and cause low-frequency navigation signal issues.
Northern Lights Forecast and Visibility
While the potential geomagnetic storms can cause disruptions to critical communication infrastructure, they could also make the aurora visible as far south as Alabama and in Northern California beginning Tuesday night, NOAA said. The University of Alaska and Space Weather Prediction Center forecasts say the best chance of seeing the northern lights starts as early as 10 p.m. ET Tuesday and will last until around 1 a.m. Wednesday.
During that time, “highly active auroral displays” might be visible in places like Portland, Oregon; Cheyenne, Wyoming, and New York City, the University of Alaska said. The northern lights might also be visible close to the horizon as far south as Oklahoma City and Raleigh, North Carolina, the university said. This is a rare opportunity for people in the US to witness the breathtaking display of the aurora borealis.
Previous Geomagnetic Storms and Their Effects
In May 2024, a powerful coronal mass ejection brought the strongest geomagnetic storm in more than 20 years to Earth. During the CME, multiple X-class solar flares were recorded, causing some radio blackouts. Another strong geomagnetic storm in October 2024 led to the northern lights being visible as far south as Florida and over bright areas like New York City and Chicago.
It’s essential to note that geomagnetic storms can have significant effects on our technology and communication systems. However, they also offer a unique chance to witness the awe-inspiring beauty of the northern lights. For more information on the severe geomagnetic storm and aurora forecast, visit Here
Image Source: www.cbsnews.com
