Particle.news
Download on the App Store
47 ARTICLES
·
3mo ago

Geomagnetic Storm Brings Northern Lights as Far South as Alabama, Continues into June 2

Charging Earth’s magnetosphere with high-energy particles, the May 30 coronal mass ejection prompted NOAA’s rare G4 warning for potential power and communications disruptions.

Image
Image
Image
Captured looking north from Stephenville, Tx. Could only see with my iPhone camera.

Overview

  • NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center upgraded the event to a G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm on June 1 after a powerful CME from May 30 struck Earth’s magnetic field.
  • Observers in states including Michigan, Washington, Ohio and Pennsylvania reported aurora sightings on June 1, with faint glows also noted as far south as Alabama and Northern California.
  • Skywatchers are advised to look north between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time under clear, dark skies away from city lights—and to factor in potential haze from Canadian wildfire smoke.
  • While G4 storms can disrupt power grids, high-frequency communications and GPS, most utilities and satellite operators have activated safeguards to minimize outages.
  • Forecast models predict the storm will weaken to G3 and G2 levels by June 2, extending aurora viewing into Monday night despite diminishing intensity.