Strongest Geomagnetic Storm Since 2003! Aurora Possible Through the Weekend

news image
Special Stories
12 May 2024 1:00 PM

The Aurora Borealis put on an incredible display Friday night into Saturday morning, reaching extreme conditions that brought photographical aurora as far south as the Florida Keys.

NOAA's satellite captured the moment of a Coronal Mass Ejection on the sun on Wednesday, May 8th which was responsible for the geomagnetic storm on Earth.

Auroras are ribbons of brilliant light that usually appear around the northern latitudes when charged particles from the sun hit Earth's magnetic field. The particles shed energy as they collide with our atmospheric gasses, giving the aurora a spectacular glow of colors. Aurora Borealis is seen away from our poles and over the northern latitudes during stronger solar events, like on Friday night. A geomagnetic storm of level 5 (the scale continues to 5) was observed on Friday evening. The last time a G5 was observed in October 2003, which caused some power outages across the globe.

Understanding Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)

While the geomagnetic storms provide the opportunity to see the aurora at lower latitudes there are major drawbacks, "[they] can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface, potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio, and satellite operations" according to NOAA. They are a result of multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that have been released from the sun starting on Wednesday, May 8th, and will arrive in Earth's magnetic field through the weekend. According to the SWPC, "CMEs are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. They cause geomagnetic storms when they are directed at Earth. The typical time it takes for a CME to arrive on Earth is between one and three days.

According to NOAA, "a large sunspot cluster has produced several moderate to strong solar flares since Wednesday at 5:00 am ET. At least five flares were associated with CMEs that appear to be Earth-directed." Solar flares travel faster and arrive on Earth at the speed of light, about 8 minutes.

Stay with WeatherNation for the latest on the Aurora forecast and images of the spectacular lights.

All Weather News
More
Stormy Days Ahead for the Northeast and Mid-Alantic

Stormy Days Ahead for the Northeast and Mid-Alantic

A break in storms for the Northeast is on the

9 May 2025 11:15 AM
Severe Thunderstorm Threat from Texas to Florida

Severe Thunderstorm Threat from Texas to Florida

A splitting storm system will bring the threa

9 May 2025 3:05 AM
Late Week Heat Back in the West

Late Week Heat Back in the West

WEST - Hazardous heat is back in the forecast

9 May 2025 3:05 AM
Southeast Soaker This Weekend

Southeast Soaker This Weekend

A large trough of low pressure stalls over th

8 May 2025 1:40 AM
Major Spring Storm Continues With Rain & Snow For the Rockies

Major Spring Storm Continues With Rain & Snow For the Rockies

Looking at the rain from a glass half full le

7 May 2025 12:40 PM
Flooding Threat Takes Aim at the Gulf Coast

Flooding Threat Takes Aim at the Gulf Coast

The forecast remains wet in the southern plai

7 May 2025 2:00 AM
Rainy Forecast Could Disrupt Kentucky Derby

Rainy Forecast Could Disrupt Kentucky Derby

Louisville is gearing up for the 151st Kentuc

3 May 2025 4:30 PM