Northern lights visible across section of US. Will Florida be able to see them ... again?
Floridians were treated to the awe-inspiring sight on May 10, 2024.
This week, the northern lights were visible farther south than normal Tuesday, April 15, and they'll be visible again for some residents tonight, April 16.
Unfortunately, they won't be visible as far south as they were in 2024, so Florida residents will have to rely on online sources, friends or family to see them.
Still want to head outside for a little skygazing? Go ahead. While they won't be at their peak — that won't happen until April 21-22 — you might be able to see the Lyrid meteor shower.
A powerful solar storm has sent particles flowing from the sun that are interacting with Earth's magnetosphere in ways that are triggering the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis.
Eruptions on the sun over the weekend sent clouds of the particles toward Earth, impacting the planet April 15-16.
A level 3 geomagnetic storm is likely, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, which could disrupt radio waves, some satellite operations and power grids.
The storm also means views of green and red in the sky that are more widely visible than usual.
A handful of states were able to see the northern lights Tuesday night, but they'll be visible again Wednesday, April 16.
Unfortunately, Florida is nowhere close to the "viewline" where the northern lights will be visible tonight, April 16.
In the U.S., the auroras became widely visible April 15, and should still be visible April 16, in at least parts of the these states:
Washington
Idaho
Montana
North Dakota
Minnesota
Wisconsin
A thin red "viewline" representing the southern-most locations where you might see the aurora borealis on the northern horizon extends to:
Wyoming
South Dakota
Iowa
Michigan
New York
Vermont
New Hampshire
Maine
People using long-exposure photography might capture images of the lights, even where they are not visible to the naked eye, according to AccuWeather.
Even though conditions are prime for more impending aurora shows, experts have long struggled to accurately forecast exactly when and where the phenomenon will ever occur. Even the best predictions can accurately be made only a few days or even hours in advance.
As a rule of thumb, if the weather is clear, the best view of the aurora borealis is usually within an hour or two of midnight, according to NOAA.
➤ Aurora dashboard helps you track the northern lights
➤ NOAA's 30-minute aurora forecast
A spectacular and rare sight was visible across Florida on May 10, 2024.
The aurora borealis, or northern lights, left many watchers in awe as pink and purple hues painted the night sky.
➤ See photos of northern lights in Florida as aurora borealis visible in night sky in 2024
"I'm truly in awe that I'm seeing the Northern Lights in FLORIDA! Just… incredible," David Reese posted on X from Tallahassee at the time.
Reactions posted on social media ranged from "absolutely insane" to "this is amazing."
Strong solar flares discharged from the sun caused northern lights to be visible across much of the U.S.
Though rare, Florida has seen northern lights before 2024.
In 1989, the aurora borealis appeared on the First Coast was visible in a red glow tinged with pale green and white streaks, the Florida Times-Union reported.
Northern lights were visible as far as South Florida in 1981, though reports indicate they were much less impressive.
Then there was the Carrington Event of 1859 tinting the sky bright red and green which may have been the most powerful solar flare on record, according to NOAA.
An increase in solar activity has more frequently fueled "space weather" that produces the right conditions for northern lights to flourish.
Regions of intense magnetic activity known as sunspots are proliferating on the solar surface and are capable of releasing intense bursts of radiation resulting in solar flares that can hurtle toward Earth at the speed of light, according to NOAA.
Some of the flares can be accompanied by coronal mass ejections, or clouds of plasma and charged particles.
Those ejections can collide with Earth's magnetosphere to produce geomagnetic storms that unleash spectacular views of the northern lights in parts of the country where auroras are not often visible.
NASA expects conditions to continue into 2025, bringing more opportunities to catch the northern lights.
Contributing: Kim Luciani, USA Today Network-Florida
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Aurora borealis visible US. See viewline, best times watch northern lights
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hurricane Erin strengthens to a fierce Category 5 storm in the Atlantic
Hurricane Erin on Saturday strengthened into a fearsome Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 160 mph as the storm traveled west over the Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center. The hurricane is not expected to make a direct hit on the United States, but it will still drive dangerous surf conditions along the East Coast. "We still expect this to eventually make a more northward turn and stay offshore of the East Coast of the United States. So that certainly is good news when dealing with a storm this powerful," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dan Pydynowski told USA TODAY. Under the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, Category 5 hurricanes are the strongest possible, with minimum winds of 157 mph. On the afternoon of Aug. 16, Erin was passing to the north of the northern Leeward Islands in the Caribbean and was just over 200 miles from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Erin is only the fifth Category 5 hurricane on record to form this early in the hurricane season and the only Category 5 observed outside the Gulf or Caribbean this early in the year, according to WPLG-TV hurricane specialist Michael Lowry. The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1 and will last through the end of November. Active hurricane weather typically peaks between mid-August and mid-October. The first hurricane of the Atlantic season on average forms on about Aug. 11. Where is Hurricane Erin? Storm path tracker As of 2 p.m. on Aug. 16, Erin was located about 110 miles north of Anguilla, one of the most northward of the Leeward Islands, and 205 miles east-northeast of Puerto Rico. It was moving west at about 16 mph with wind speeds of 160 mph. This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. Erin strengthened rapidly and is expected to grow Erin formed as a hurricane on Aug. 15. It was the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, and quickly became the first major hurricane as well. A major hurricane is one that reaches at least Category 3 status. "(B)y the middle of next week, Erin is forecast to at least double or triple in size, which will result in rough ocean conditions over the western Atlantic," the hurricane center said. Erin's hurricane force winds had a mean diameter of 43 miles on Aug. 16 but are expected to increase to 132 miles in diameter by Aug. 19, while its tropical storm force winds are forecast to reach a mean diameter of 385 miles over the same time period. The storm's outer bands of rain were already beginning to impact the northern Leeward Islands, forecasters said on Aug. 16. Heavy rainfall is expected in the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico for the rest of the weekend, bringing 2 to 4 inches of rain with localized amounts of 6 inches and possible flash flooding. What impacts will Hurricane Erin have on the US? Erin is expected to make a turn to the north and avoid making landfall altogether. It will pass somewhere between North Carolina's Outer Banks and Bermuda, National Hurricane Center Director Mike Brennan said. Despite staying well off the coast, Erin will cause dangerous surf conditions up and down practically the entire East Coast, from Florida all the way up to New England beaches, Pydynowski said. The conditions will include high waves and dangerous rip currents. The Outer Banks could see some beach erosion and coastal flooding from high waves, he said. Erin is expected to bring dangerous conditions to offshore waters and beaches along the Northeast Florida coast from Aug. 18 - 21, including rip currents and rough, high surf with breakers greater than 7 feet on the 19th and 20th, said the weather service office in Jacksonville, Florida. Weather conditions may seem ideal for a beach trip, but these types of conditions are when rip current fatalities tend to occur, Brennan said. Rip currents may not be visible from shore, so beachgoers should swim near lifeguards and pay attention to posted warnings. 'Catastrophic' Erin underwent unusually rapid intensification Rapid intensification occurs when a tropical cyclone (whether a tropical storm or hurricane) strengthens by at least 35 mph in a 24-hour period. In Erin's case, winds strengthened roughly 80 mph in about a day. Erin was declared a hurricane (winds of at least 74 mph) shortly before 11 a.m. on Aug. 15. A day later, it had strengthened into a Category 5 cyclone (winds of at least 157 mph). Warm water ahead of Erin as it moved west, a lack of wind shear and its position far enough away from any land to interfere contributed to the strengthening, Pydynowski said. "These kind of rapid intensification events do occur, but that much that quickly is certainly more toward the uncommon end of things," he said. Data shows Hurricane Erin's remarkable power Since 1979, only Hurricane Allen in 1980 had a lower minimum central pressure by August 16, said Phil Klotzbach, a senior research scientist at Colorado State University. Lower pressure in a hurricane means a stronger storm. Since 1970, only 5 storms in the Atlantic hurricane basin have had 145 mph maximum winds or more by Aug. 16: Allen in 1980, Charley in 2004, Dennis in 2005, Emily in 2005 and Beryl in 2004, Klotzbach noted. -Doyle Rice and Dinah Voyles Pulver Hurricane Erin spaghetti models Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts. How do hurricanes form? Hurricanes are born in the tropics, above warm water. Clusters of thunderstorms can develop over the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression. A tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm once its sustained wind speeds reaches 39 miles per hour. When its winds reach 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane. Prepare now for hurricanes Delaying potentially life-saving preparations could mean waiting until it's too late. "Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period," NOAA recommends. Prepare now for hurricanes: Here's what you should do to stay safe before a hurricane arrives Develop an evacuation plan: If you are at risk from hurricanes, you need an evacuation plan. Now is the time to begin planning where you would go and how you would get there. Assemble disaster supplies: Whether you're evacuating or sheltering-in-place, you're going to need supplies not just to get through the storm but for the potentially lengthy aftermath, NOAA said. Get an insurance checkup and document your possessions: Contact your insurance company or agent now and ask for an insurance check-up to make sure you have enough insurance to repair or even replace your home and/or belongings. Remember, home and renters insurance doesn't cover flooding, so you'll need a separate policy for it. Flood insurance is available through your company, agent, or the National Flood Insurance Program. Act now, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period. Create a family communication plan: NOAA said to take the time now to write down your hurricane plan, and share it with your family. Determine family meeting places, and make sure to include an out-of-town location in case of evacuation. Strengthen your home: Now is the time to improve your home's ability to withstand hurricane impacts. Trim trees; install storm shutters, accordion shutters, and/or impact glass; seal outside wall openings. Contributing: Doyle Rice and Dinah Voyles Pulver This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Live hurricane tracker updates show Erin's path, spaghetti models
Forbes
32 minutes ago
- Forbes
Hurricane Erin Explosively Strengthening
Update: Sustained winds as of 11:35 am EST have increased to 160 mph since this article was published. It is now Category 5. Hurricane Erin is currently at Category 4 hurricane with sustained wind speeds of 145 mph and gusting to even higher levels. NOAA Hurricane Hunters flying into the storm also found that the minimum pressure was down to 935 mb as of 8:00 am AST on August 16. Erin is literally strengthening as I write this. In the 5:00 am AST update from the National Hurricane Center, sustained winds were 130 mph. These numbers place Hurricane Erin at Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale. and very close to a Category 5 storm. It also represents yet another recent example of explosive rapid intensification. Hurricane Erin rapidly intensified in the last 24 hours and exhibits a clear eye and eyewall on Saturday morning. NOAA and Tropical Tidbits website Candidly, when I looked at the satellite presentation of Erin this morning, I said, 'Wow.' It had that eerily perfect structure meteorologists like me dread. Such attributes include a well-defined eye, an intact eyewall, and a healthy outflow region in the upper part of the atmosphere. It also has something else that concerns me. There is plenty of very warm water in the path of the storm. In fact, some of the warmest sea surface temperatures are still in front of the storm. Will Erin make a run for Category 5, which means sustained winds greater than 157 mph? Here's what the National Hurricane Center is saying about Hurricane Erin in its 8:00 am AST update on August 16. They wrote, " Erin is expected to continue to rapidly strengthen over the next 12 hours while it remains in favorable conditions of warm water, low wind shear, and in an environment of high moisture…. Strengthening could continue through tonight." With that statement, I am certainly not ruling out Category 5, but it really doesn't matter. Category 4 is strong enough. Thankfully, wind shear will increase early next week. Rapid intensification is defined as a storm gaining 35 mph of wind speed in less than 24 hours. At 5 pm on Friday, Erin was a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph winds. It increased by 70 mph in 15 hours according to Washington Post and MyRadar Weather Radar meteorologist Matthew Cappucci. Rapid intensification is a big deal, but I continually see storms going well beyond the rate for RI. My hunch, as an expert in this field, is that our current metrics of 'weather extremes' like RI and '100-year flood' are becoming obsolete. Thankfully, Erin will not make a direct hit on the U.S., but several RI hurricanes have in recent years. They include Hurricane Ida (2021), Hurricane Ian (2022), Hurricane Beryl (2024), Hurricane Milton (2024), Hurricane Helene (2024), and several others. I wrote last year about how RI near the coast creates a new reality for hurricane planning and response. Forecast track for Hurricane Erin as of August 16, 2025. NOAA Erin is expected to pass between Bermuda and the East Coast. NHC went on to say, 'Although Erin is a somewhat compact hurricane now, the models are in strong agreement that the system will grow in size over the next several days.' By Wednesday it could be two or three times its current size. That means the U.S. East Coast could certainly experience large swells and an elevated rip current threat. As I close, it is worth mentioning that a small disturbance is currently producing showers and thunderstorms off the North Carolina coast. It is not Hurricane Erin and only has a 10% chance of further development in the coming days. However, it certainly will be a nuisance for people along the Carolina and Virginia coasts this weekend.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Hurricane Erin may bring coastal danger from Florida to New England
The August weather might seem ideal for a beach trip, but Hurricane Erin will bring widespread danger in coming days. Hurricane Erin strengthened into a monstrous category 5 storm in the Atlantic Ocean on Aug. 16, and is expected to bring widespread danger along the East Coast, even if it isn't forecast to make landfall. Rough ocean conditions are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip currents in the coming days, according to the National Hurricane Center. The rip currents were causing moderate risk Saturday in northeastern Florida, but could increase along the East Coast of the United States early next week, said the National Weather Service office in Jacksonville, Florida. AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dan Pydynowski told USA TODAY dangerous surf conditions could reach as far as New England beaches, even as the hurricane is expected to avoid making landfall. Graphics: How rip currents endanger swimmers Safety: Rip currents kill dozens every year. What to do if you get caught in one The late-summer weather might seem ideal for a beach trip, but these conditions are when rip current fatalities tend to occur, said National Hurricane Center Director Mike Brennan. Rip currents might not be visible from shore, and they can appear suddenly. Beachgoers should swim near lifeguards and pay attention to warnings. Rip currents are fast-moving channels of water that flow away from shore. In doing so, the currents drag swimmers out into open waters. People can then become exhausted and drown. The narrow, strong currents flow quickly, faster at times than an Olympic swimmer, and perpendicular to the coastline. Rip currents cause the majority of deaths among beach swimmers each year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Of 52 identified surf zone deaths in 2025 to date, nearly half were caused by rip currents. Since 2010, over 800 people have died in rip current drownings. What to do if you get caught in a rip current If you get caught in a rip current, the best thing to do is remain calm. Currents won't pull you underwater, but away from shore. So people shouldn't swim against the current, which puts them at risk of tiring out. Instead, people should swim parallel to shore and then swim back at an angle when you're free of the rip current. What if others are caught in a rip current? Plenty of people drown trying to save others caught in a rip current. If someone is struggling, NOAA's Rip Current Survival Guide recommends you try to get help from a lifeguard. You can also throw a floatable device to the person who needs it while you get a lifeguard. But amid a nationwide shortage of lifeguards, if there isn't a lifeguard present, call 911. Try to direct the person to swim parallel to shore to get out of the rip current.
