Latest news with #geomagneticStorm
Forbes
25-06-2025
- Climate
- Forbes
Northern Lights Tonight: 14 States On Aurora Alert On Wednesday Night
The northern lights streak through the sky over a horse barn in Mercer, Maine on May 10, 2024. ... More (Photo by) The Northern Lights may be visible in the U.S. on Wednesday night, according to a forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center. Although astronomical darkness is in short supply at northerly latitudes, sky-watchers in 14 U.S. states may have a chance to see the aurora borealis on the northern horizon as soon as it gets dark. The agency's three-day forecast indicates a minor geomagnetic storm, measured at a value of up to G2 on a scale of G1 to G5. According to NOAA's forecast, the Kp index — which provides a rough guide to the intensity of aurora displays — may reach 5. According to the stream of turbulent solar wind expected to hit Earth is the result of gaseous material flowing from an equatorial hole in the sun's atmosphere. Where The Northern Lights May Be Visible NOAA's latest aurora viewlines indicate that aurora displays are a possibility in northern U.S. states and Canada, with 14 U.S. states having a chance after dark on Wednesday, June 25. U.S. states that may see aurora include (northerly parts of ) Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Areas far from light pollution are likely to offer the best views. However, with the solstice last week, it doesn't get completely dark at night in late June near the U.S.-Canada border. Check NOAA's 30-minute forecast or use the Glendale App for the latest forecasts. NOAA's aurora viewline for Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Why The Northern Lights Are Being Seen In The U.S. The possibility of displays of the aurora borealis at more southerly latitudes than is typical is down to an increase in solar activity, which is currently at a 23-year high due to the current solar maximum period. The sun is now thought to be on the wane, having peaked in late 2024, but the best aurora displays often occur in the few years after solar maximum. If the current solar cycle does have a long tail, good aurora sightings in the U.S. could result for a few years. Best Places To See The Northern Lights Although geomagnetic storms and aurora are expected to continue through 2025 and 2026, the easiest and most reliable way to see the northern lights is to go as far north as possible, ideally to about 65 degrees north latitude, where the auroral oval typically sits (northern Norway, northern Sweden, northern Finland, Iceland, Alaska and northern Canada), It's in these places that you'll get the "wow" factor, with the season — defined by when it gets dark at night — being September through March. The Aurora Australis, also known as the Southern Lights, glow on the horizon over waters of Lake ... More Ellesmere on the outskirts of Christchurch on May 11, 2024. (Photo by Sanka Vidanagama / AFP) (Photo by SANKA VIDANAGAMA/AFP via Getty Images) Northern Lights Vs. Southern Lights The aurora are most frequently seen around the Arctic Circle and Antarctic Circle. The Southern Hemisphere is currently the best place to see aurora. The Southern Lights (aurora australis) are visible from New Zealand's South Island between March and September. The relative lack of landmass in the southerly regions of the Southern Hemisphere makes the aurora australis generally more difficult to see than the Northern Lights. What Causes The Northern Lights The Northern Lights are caused by the solar wind, a stream of charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth's magnetic field. Although the magnetic field deflects much of it, some charged particles accelerate along the magnetic field lines toward the polar regions, where they collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms, exciting them and causing them to release energy as light. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Forbes
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Forbes
Northern Lights Alert: 13 States May See Aurora On Monday And Tuesday
Wisconsin's night sky is glowing with the Northern Lights, as a geomagnetic storm is bringing ... More vibrant pink and green colors. (Photo by Ross Harried/NurPhoto via Getty Images) The Northern Lights may be visible from 13 U.S. states on Monday, June 2 through Tuesday, June 3, 2025, after a G1 geomagnetic storm was forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It comes in the wake of an 'extreme' G5 geomagnetic storm last weekend that saw aurora borealis seen from as far south as California. As Earth approaches the solstice on June 21, the U.S. is currently one of the best places to see the Northern Lights. The agency's three-day forecast has a geomagnetic storm, measured at a value of G1 on a scale of G1 to G5, potentially occurring on Monday night through Tuesday morning in North America. NOAA's aurora viewlines have potential aurora displays that are possible in northern U.S. states and Canada. A total of 13 U.S. states have a chance of seeing the aurora on the northern horizon, with those on the U.S.-Canada border having a higher chance. According to NOAA, this display may be seen from Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, northeast Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Regions closest to the border with Canada will have the highest possibility of seeing the aurora. NOAA's forecast for the aurora viewline on Monday, June 2, 2025. According to NOAA's forecast, the Kp index — which provides a rough guide to the intensity of aurora displays — may reach 5, seeing the auroral oval stretch farther south. Kp 5 equates to a G1-class geomagnetic storm. For a Kp in the range of 3 to 5, 'The aurora will move further from the poles, it will become brighter, and there will be more auroral activity (motion and formations)," according to NOAA. "If you are in the right place, these aurora can be quite pleasing to look at.' The geomagnetic storm on May 10, 2024, which saw aurora as far south as Florida, was rated as G5 and had Kp 9 intensity. It was the most powerful since 2003. Although it's forecast for Monday night through Tuesday morning in North America, exactly when and where aurora becomes visible this week will be down not to predictions but data coming in from NASA's DSCOVR and ACE satellites. Orbiting the sun from around a million miles from Earth, they give a roughly 30-minute warning of aurora displays after measuring the solar wind's speed and magnetic intensity. Check NOAA's 30-minute forecast or use the Glendale App for up-to-the-minute forecasts. People visit St Mary's lighthouse to see the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, ... More on May 10, 2024 in Whitley Bay, England. (Photo by) If your smartphone has a 'Night Mode' feature, that should be good enough to get a more than impressive souvenir shot of the aurora. It likely means a long exposure of between five and 10 seconds, which will look much better if you do three things: The Northern Lights are caused by the solar wind, a stream of charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth's magnetic field. Although the magnetic field deflects much of it, some charged particles accelerate along the magnetic field lines toward the polar regions, where they collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms, exciting them and causing them to release energy as light. The possibility of displays of the aurora borealis at more southerly latitudes comes from a spike in solar activity, which is currently at a 23-year high due to the current solar maximum period. Geomagnetic storms and aurora are expected to continue through 2025 and 2026. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Aurora visibility likely Sunday night in NC as G4 geomagnetic storm hits Earth
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — It's possible that central North Carolina could watch a beautiful night sky from the Northern Lights this Sunday. This is being prompted by a G4 geomagnetic storm that came from a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun that hit Earth early Sunday morning. Auroras are nearly impossible to forecast, longer than a 30-60 minute timescale, but we'll do our best here. CMEs carry electrically charged atoms, known as ions. When these ions collide with Earth's magnetosphere, they can trigger geomagnetic storms, major disturbances in Earth's magnetosphere. During these storms, ions interact with gases in Earth's atmosphere, releasing energy in the form of light. This light is the northern lights, or aurora borealis, in the Northern Hemisphere. It's possible, but certainly not likely we could see some color in NC tonight. EDITOR'S NOTE: This video was previously made before the most recent geomagnetic 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
A few more storms today ahead of drier and hotter weather pattern
(PINPOINT WEATHER) — Good Sunday morning! We are starting warmer and a touch more humid this morning compared to yesterday. Temperatures are in the lower 60s for the most part this morning, with a few more 50s towards the foothills and mountains. Expect high temperatures to be anywhere between the mid to upper 70s and lower 80s this afternoon. We will have a secondary cold front moving through today, which will trigger scattered showers and storms this afternoon and evening across the Charlotte metro. A storm or two may contain gusty winds and hail, however, the severe threat is very isolated today. Storms will gradually clear out as we head into the late evening and overnight hours, allowing for clearing skies and temperatures to fall into the 50s. Keep your eyes on the sky later tonight; there is a chance the Carolinas could witness the Northern Lights due to a severe geomagnetic storm. No promises, but there is a legit chance to see the aurora borealis tonight into early Monday. When viewing the northern lights, be sure to be away from any light pollution. A nice weather pattern for the start of the work week is ahead. Seasonable temperatures to start the week, with high temperatures in the lower 80s and morning lows in the upper 50s. By Wednesday of this week, temperatures will turn more summerlike, with highs rising into the mid to upper 80s. That hotter and more humid pattern will continue into next weekend, with increasing storm chances by Friday and into 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forbes
01-06-2025
- Climate
- Forbes
‘Extreme' Northern Lights Alert: 27 States May See Aurora This Weekend During Intense Storm
Scotland, East Lothian, silhouette of woman standing on Seacliff Beach watching Northern lights The Northern Lights may be visible from 27 U.S. states on Sunday, June 1 through Monday, June 2, 2025, after a massive geomagnetic storm was forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "By as early as midday on 01 Jun to early on 02Jun, conditions are expected to increase rapidly with the arrival of the CME from 31 May," said a NOAA post, referring to the arrival of a coronal mass ejection — a huge cloud of charged particles — from he sun. "G3-G4 (Strong-Severe) conditions are likely, with a chance for G5 (Extreme) levels on 01-02 Jun," said NOAA. The effects of the CME could last through Tuesday, June 3. However, NOAA added that, "While confidence is high for CME arrival at Earth, confidence is much lower for timing and magnitude." The effect on darkness hours of Earth's tilt as we approach the solstice on June 21 make the U.S. currently one of the best places to see the Northern Lights. NOAA has also dropped an aurora viewline forecast that indicates that aurora may be seen from 27 U.S. states. According to NOAA, this display may be seen in northern skies from northern Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, northeast Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine — and many others. Regions closest to the border with Canada will have the highest possibility of seeing the aurora. The potential displays of aurora borealis tonight have a predicted Kp index of 7.67. According to NOAA, that means 'the aurora will move even further from the poles and will become quite bright and active. At this geomagnetic activity level, it might be possible to see the aurora from the northern edge of the United States.' NOAA's aurora viewline forecast for Sunday, June1, 2025. Here are some tips for seeing the aurora: The solar wind is a stream of charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth's magnetic field. They're super-charged by a coronal mass ejection that travels to Earth over a few days. Aurora is typically seen in polar regions at around latitudes of 70 degrees north and south, but during extreme geomagnetic conditions — usually when CMEs arrive at Earth one after another, or in tandem — the auroral oval can bulge, with displays then seen as low as 25 degrees north and south of the equator. Follow my page for the latest Northern Lights forecast. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
