Aurora chasers are on high alert for strong geomagnetic storm conditions. Northern lights possible deep into mid-latitudes.
We could be in for a northern lights treat tonight! With strong geomagnetic storm conditions predicted, auroras could be visible deep into mid-latitudes (around 50°).
Due to two incoming solar storms, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center issued a G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm warnings.
This is great news for those wishing to see the northern lights because if the predicted G3 conditions are reached we could witness auroras as far south as Illinois and Oregon. The culprit? Or should I say culprits? Not just one but two powerful solar eruptions that hurled vast plumes of material toward Earth.
The eruptions occurred on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2, the latter being the biggest solar flare since 2017! Each eruption was accompanied by a large plume of plasma and magnetic field known as a coronal mass ejection (CME). When CMEs interact with Earth’s magnetosphere, they bring electrically charged particles called ions that collide with Earth’s magnetic field. These collisions can spark geomagnetic storms. During such storms, ions slam into atmospheric gases, releasing energy that appears as light. This phenomenon is observed as the northern lights, or aurora borealis, in the Northern Hemisphere, and the southern lights, or aurora australis, in the Southern Hemisphere.
With two CMEs on their way, geomagnetic storm prospects are looking promising. However, the exact timings are difficult to ascertain due to the complex nature of modeling their behavior.
Geomagnetic storms are classified by NOAA using a G-scale to measure the intensity of geomagnetic storms. They range from G5, the most extreme class to G1 minor class storms. The recent geomagnetic storm watch issued by NOAA is currently classified as a G3 class.
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