People in Alabama could see Northern Lights tonight thanks to severe solar storm

The aurora borealis might be seen all through a lot of the northern US and as far south as Alabama on Friday resulting from a extreme storm making its manner throughout the nation.

The Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Area Climate Prediction Middle introduced the “uncommon” improvement on Thursday. It’s the primary geomagnetic watch the company has introduced since 2005.

The northern lights are brought on by magnetic storms which have been triggered by photo voltaic exercise. A number of sturdy flares have been noticed over the previous few days and had been related to a big and magnetically advanced sunspot construction, which is 16 occasions the diameter of earth.

Solely three extreme geomagnetic storms have been noticed in the course of the present photo voltaic cycle, which began in 2019.

The company has listed the present storm a G4, the second-highest stage for extreme climate occasions.

The company stated not less than 5 earth-directed coronal mass ejections had been noticed and are anticipated to reach round midday on Friday and can proceed into Sunday.

“That is an uncommon occasion,” the company stated in a information launch.

Nonetheless, whereas storm watchers could also be wanting to catch a glimpse of the lights from the US, individuals ought to be aware that such storms may end in blackouts. One related storm resulted in energy outages in Sweden and broken energy transformers in South Africa.

The company stated that the probabilities of seeing the lights will likely be highest in northern US, Canada and northern Europe however might be seen as far west as California. The probabilities of seeing the lights are increased in areas away from metropolis lights. Clear skies are extra possible on Friday over the central states and west coast.

A lot of the northeast is at present experiencing cloudy skies.

Most of the people are inspired to go to NOAA’s web site for extra details about the phenomenon.