A powerful solar storm, classified as a level-four geomagnetic storm on a scale of five, struck Earth on Monday, potentially bringing the Northern Lights to night skies further south than usual, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The storm, which began at 1500 GMT, could last for several hours but is not expected to intensify further. NOAA predicts that the aurora borealis could be visible as far south as Alabama and northern California.
The storm is caused by coronal mass ejections (CMEs), massive explosions of particles from the Sun. These particles disrupt Earth’s magnetic field upon arrival.
While the spectacle of the Northern Lights is captivating, solar storms can also have negative consequences. They can disrupt high-frequency communications, interfere with satellite operations, and overload power grids.
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NOAA has alerted operators of sensitive infrastructure to take precautions to mitigate these effects.
This latest event follows a series of powerful geomagnetic storms in May, the strongest in 20 years, which illuminated the night skies in the US, Europe, and Australia with auroras at unusually low latitudes.
The increased frequency of these storms is attributed to the Sun’s current peak activity, which occurs every 11 years.
