A Rare and Intense Solar Storm Expected to Boost Northern Lights Visibility
A severe solar storm is expected to supercharge the northern lights on Friday, creating the potential for auroras to be visible as far south as Alabama in the United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a severe geomagnetic storm watch, the first since 2005, predicting “spectacular displays of aurora” on Earth from Friday evening through the weekend.
This rare event is causing concern as strong geomagnetic storms have the potential to disrupt communications, power grids, and satellite operations on Earth. The storm could arrive as early as 8 p.m. ET on Friday, with uncertainty in timing due to the distance from the sun to Earth.
NASA’s Advanced Composition Explorer spacecraft will assist in measuring the solar wind and predicting the potential effects of the storm more accurately. The northern lights, caused by charged particles from the sun during solar storms, may be visible farther south during intense solar activity.
According to forecasts, auroras on Friday night could be seen as far south as Alabama and Northern California. The storm is expected to persist through the weekend, with multiple solar flares and coronal mass ejections directed at Earth.
Geomagnetic storms have the potential to induce currents on high-voltage transmission lines, causing issues for transformers on the power grid. The sun goes through 11-year cycles, with the current cycle predicted to peak with maximum activity in July 2025.
Keep an eye out for the stunning light show in the sky this weekend, as nature puts on a rare display for sky gazers across the United States.
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