A strong solar storm has hit Earth, causing a spectacular display of the Northern Lights. The coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun clashed with our atmosphere, resulting in a G1 geomagnetic storm. This is stronger than forecasters initially predicted.
The CME was caused by recent solar flares on the sun’s surface, which supercharged the solar wind. However, the charged particles did not cause the Northern Lights themselves, but rather interacted with Earth’s magnetic field.
Space weather forecasters had predicted that the CME would narrowly miss Earth today. Instead, it struck at 05:19 UTC on Tuesday, Dec. 17, causing a significant geomagnetic storm. The Kp index reached 5, indicating a G1-class storm.
The display of the Northern Lights was visible in some northern-tier and midwest US states, including Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine. While typically seen at high latitudes, the auroral oval can bulge during intense solar activity, allowing for displays to be seen as low as 25 degrees north and south of the equator.
Forecasters had initially predicted the display would occur four hours later than it actually did, from around 09:00-15:00 UTC on Tuesday. However, the exact timing of aurora displays is difficult to forecast more than a few minutes in advance. Observers are advised to keep an eye on NOAA’s forecast and apps like Aurora Now for real-time updates.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2024/12/17/northern-lights-earth-gets-direct-hit-and-a-geomagnetic-storm—what-to-know