Aurora alert: Incoming solar storm could spark northern lights as far south as New York tonight
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Heads up aurora chasers! We could be in for a treat tonight.
A coronal mass ejection (CME) from a powerful solar blast on March 1 is racing toward Earth, with the potential to spark a geomagnetic storm and subsequent impressive northern lights overnight and into tomorrow.
According to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), the CME is expected to graze Earth's magnetic field on March 4 or 5, potentially triggering a G1-class geomagnetic storm. But there's more — space weather physicist Tamitha Skov notes that stronger G2 storm conditions are also possible. That means a better chance for dazzling auroras, so keep an eye on the skies and get your camera gear ready!
Geomagnetic storms occur when charged particles from the sun interact with Earth's magnetosphere, potentially causing disruptions in satellite communications, power grid fluctuations, and — most excitingly — enhanced auroral activity. With a predicted peak Kp of 5, this even falls under the minor G1 storm classification, meaning its effects will be relatively mild. However, it's also possible that we will receive more powerful G2 conditions according to Skov, in these instances northern lights are possibly visible as far south as New York and Idaho.
NOAA classifies geomagnetic storms using a G-scale, which ranks their intensity from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme).
NOAA's forecast indicates the strongest geomagnetic activity is expected late on March 4 and perhaps into the early hours of March 5. The storm's intensity is forecasted to peak between 7:00 p.m. EST and 10:00 p.m. EST (00:00 and 03:00 GMT) on March 5, with a Kp index reaching G1 levels. Activity will likely taper off throughout the day on March 5, returning to quieter conditions by March 6. For the latest predictions and timings see NOAA's 3-day space weather forecast.
Check out our aurora live updates blog for the latest northern lights forecasts and alerts.
For those in northern latitudes, tonight could bring a chance to witness the northern lights. Stay tuned for updates, and if you're hoping to catch the aurora, find a dark location away from city lights and keep an eye on space weather alerts.
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