An ‘extreme’ geomagnetic storm turned the skies pink, red and green in aurora across the US even as far south as Texas and Arizona.
Displays of Northern Lights are possible on Thanksgiving and Black Friday for the northern U.S. after NOAA’s space weather forecasters say charged particles from the Sun will create geomagnetic storm conditions.
According to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), a coronal mass ejection – an eruption of solar material – was seen leaving the Sun on Monday.
The SWPC rates solar storms on a five-level scale, with five being the most extreme and rarest space weather conditions. For this event, the SWPC issued a G1 (minor) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Thursday and a G2 (moderate) watch for Friday when the arrival of the CME is expected.
When these particles interact with Earth’s magnetic field, displays of Northern Lights, known as the Aurora Borealis, are created. During minor (G1) and moderate (G2) geomagnetic storms, the Northern Lights can be visible at higher latitudes and in the U.S. in places such as Maine and northern Michigan.
The SWPC said displays of Northern Lights are possible on Friday in some northern states and the Upper Midwest.
Unfortunately, a coast-to-coast winter storm bringing snow to some and rain to many across the U.S. may impede views of the sky and the Northern Lights.
More snow and rain is expected to hit the Northeast on Thanksgiving Day. NWS Burlington Meteorologist-in-Charge Gabriel Langbauer said the best day to travel in Vermont will be Wednesday.
Another aspect of space weather is the impact it can have on critical systems we use every day on Earth, including the power grid, communication and GPS navigation.
Under the moderate geomagnetic storming conditions forecast, power grid fluctuations can occur, and satellites in low-Earth orbit may experience increased drag.