Aurora alert: Possible geomagnetic storm could bring northern lights as far south as New York
A geomagnetic storm watch has been issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center for July 24. This is due to a coronal mass ejection (CME) released from the sun on July 21, which is expected to arrive on July 24.
The CME carries ions that can trigger geomagnetic storms when they collide with Earth’s magnetosphere. During these storms, ions release energy in the form of light, creating the northern lights or aurora borealis in the Northern Hemisphere.
Geomagnetic storms are classified by NOAA using a G-scale, ranging from G5 (extreme) to G1 (minor). The current forecast is for a G2-class storm.
While some people are excited about the possibility of seeing the northern lights as far south as New York, others may be concerned about the potential effects on technology and daily life. CMEs can cause power grid outages, disrupt radio transmissions, and even pose a threat to satellites and astronauts in low Earth orbit.
For the latest space weather alerts and forecast, check NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
Source: https://www.space.com/northern-lights-possible-july-24-geomagnetic-storm-warning