Latest news with #GeomagneticStormWarning
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Solar storms could trigger Northern Lights as far south as Kentucky Tuesday night
A strong geomagnetic storm unleashed by multiple magnetic eruptions on the Sun means many Americans in the Lower 48 could be treated to quite a spectacle late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, as the Northern Lights could glimmer across much of the northern U.S. – perhaps as far south as Kentucky. What Is A Geomagnetic Storm? The Northern Lights are produced by geomagnetic storms, or phenomena in which waves of particles from the Sun cause a disturbance in the magnetic field that envelops our planet. Noaa's Space Weather Prediction Center issued a Geomagnetic Storm Warning for a "strong" G3 level event on the geomagnetic storm scale for early Wednesday morning. The scale goes up to G5. What Are The 5 Categories That Measure Geomagnetic Storms? Those interested in watching the Northern Lights late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning can check the forecast below to see whether clouds could get in the way for the show. Americans in cities, such as Frankfort, Kentucky, and Chicago, will have some of the clearest skies. Unfortunately, clouds will reign supreme over Pennsylvania and much of the Northeast. The most vivid sights of the Northern Lights will take place over the Rockies and Western U.s. right before sunrise, according to FOX Forecast Center Meteorologist Christopher Tate. The best way to see the aurora is to find a place away from city lights with a clear view of the northern horizon. The lights will show up better on camera, especially with a few seconds' exposure. But strong displays are still visible with just your eyes. How To Watch Fox Weather In addition to creating the Northern Lights, the G3 geomagnetic storm has the potential to interrupt radio frequencies and cause some satellite navigation problems. After the initial geomagnetic storm level of G3, the SWPC said the storm will decrease to a G1 on Thursday and then below G1 by article source: Solar storms could trigger Northern Lights as far south as Kentucky Tuesday night
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Northern Lights in NY: Could the aurora borealis be visible tonight?
The Brief The Northern Lights may be visible in parts of NY after a Geomagnetic Storm Warning was issued. NOAA advises those who hope to see the Northern Lights to get away from city lights. The best viewing time is usually within an hour or two before or after midnight. NEW YORK - NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) said the Northern Lights may be visible in parts of New York state after a Geomagnetic Storm Warning was issued on Thursday. JUMP TO: WHAT TIME TO LOOK UP? What we know The SWPC rates solar storms on a five-level scale, with five being the most extreme and rarest space weather conditions. Moderate, level 2 out of 5, geomagnetic storming is possible on Thursday. At that level, the SWPC said power grid fluctuations could occur, and high-latitude power systems may even experience voltage alarms. In addition, satellite orientation irregularities may occur, and increased drag on low-Earth orbit satellites is possible. Because of the geomagnetic storm, the SWPC said the Northern Lights may be visible farther south than usual on Thursday, which includes parts of New York. The backstory NOAA advises those who hope to see the Northern Lights to get away from city lights. The best viewing time is usually within an hour or two before or after midnight. The sun sends more than heat and light to Earth — it sends energy and charged particles known as the solar wind. But sometimes that solar wind becomes a storm. The sun's outer atmosphere occasionally "burps" out huge bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections. They produce solar storms, also known as geomagnetic storms, according to NOAA. The Earth's magnetic field shields us from much of it, but particles can travel down the magnetic field lines along the north and south poles and into Earth's atmosphere. When the particles interact with the gases in our atmosphere, they can produce light — blue and purple from nitrogen, green and red from oxygen.
