You Might Be Able to See the Northern Lights in the US This Weekend
After several days of rare solar activity, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) has issued a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm watch for this weekend. NOAA experts predict that in addition to potential disruptions to the power grid, navigation, radio and satellite communications, the storm could cause the northern lights to be visible across much of the United States, “as far away as Alabama and Northern California.” “
Here’s what you need to know about seeing the northern lights this weekend and other potential impacts from the geomagnetic storm.
What is a geomagnetic storm?
Before we get to the northern lights, let’s talk about the potential geomagnetic storm that could cause them. Two sunspot clusters — one in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern hemisphere — emitted large numbers of high-energy solar flares during this time, according to Sean Dahl, coordinator of NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). a week.
SWPC is currently tracking at least seven coronal mass ejections (CMEs)—explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the solar corona that can cause geomagnetic storms when they are aimed at Earth. This is what prompted the agency to release Following Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storms for the first time since January 2005.
“We are facing a rare event,” Dahl said during a briefing Friday morning. “Yes, we are a little worried. We hadn’t seen it for so long that we thought it deserved special attention.”
What happens during a geomagnetic storm?
According to NOAA, geomagnetic storms can affect the Earth in two main ways:
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Visibility of the northern lights extends much further south than normal, and
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Potential disruptions to infrastructure, including power grids, communications, navigation, radio and satellite communications.
What time will the geomagnetic storm occur?
While the SWPC has “high confidence” that CMEs are heading toward Earth, “we are less confident about the timing of these events,” Dahl says. Right now, the agency is predicting that the first CMEs could reach Earth as early as this afternoon Eastern Daylight Time and continue into the evening. It’s also possible that additional solar eruptions could cause geomagnetic storm watches to be extended into the weekend.
We will have a much better idea of the timing of a potential geomagnetic storm when the CME reaches a point about one million miles from Earth, where NASA and NOAA satellites monitor solar wind conditions.
“That’s when we know the intensity and what might be developing here on Earth,” Dahl says. “That means we will have more confidence and we will start issuing warnings.” He said CMEs travel at about 800 kilometers per second, so when they fly past a satellite, “it could take 20 to 45 minutes of time” before they reach Earth.
SWPC has notified the National Grid and other infrastructure system operators of the forecast geomagnetic storm “so that they can and are prepared to make the best possible efforts to mitigate the impact of this event should it develop to the levels we currently expect. “, says Dahl.
How and where to see the northern lights
Geomagnetic storms not only have the potential to destroy infrastructure: they can also cause auroral displays that extend far beyond their normal geographic scope. If the geomagnetic storm forecast for this weekend is strong enough, NOAA experts predict the Northern Lights should be visible across much of the northern half of the country and perhaps as far south as Alabama and Northern California. Because the aurora oval doesn’t spread evenly across North America, residents of the Midwest and Northeast “always have a slightly better chance of seeing the aurora further south than someone much further west at the same latitude,” Dahl says.
As always, for the best chance of seeing the aurora—and most celestial activity, for that matter—head to the darkest sky near you. But check the weather forecast first: any type of precipitation or cloud cover can obscure your view of this natural wonder.
When will you be able to see the Northern Lights?
Until the first CMEs start passing the satellite at a distance of one million miles, it will be difficult to accurately predict when the Northern Lights will be visible in the United States, Dahl said. For now, NOAA is forecasting that the aurora will likely peak late Friday but could continue into Saturday.
How to prepare for geomagnetic storms
Given the potential for disruptions to the power grid and other infrastructure, Dahl says a potential geomagnetic storm can be prepared in the same way as any other power outage. “Everyone should always have a plan, batteries, a weather radio and maybe a generator, depending on where you live in the country and how prone you are to regular power outages,” he says. “They don’t need to do anything extraordinary if they’ve already taken these measures because [geomagnetic storms of predicted severity] are very rare.”
You can track the geomagnetic storm yourself on the SWPC website , which will be updated with new information as it occurs, or sign up to receive NOAA space weather alerts, warnings and information .