USA: Rare Solar Storm Brings Aurora Borealis to Southern US

HIGHTECHDUDE · #1 ● 05-12-2024, 01:29 PM

There are reports that everyone on the sun died, and I think it knocked out my internet for a couple of hours...

SO. CALIFORNIA, (May 12, 2024) — Due to a solar magnetic storm not seen in over 20 years, the northern lights were visible in Southern California and other parts of the USA on May 10-12, 2024.

“As we all looked towards the sky, something like this has not happened for at least 20 years,” Jason Anderson said. “The northern lights showed up in Southern California. The actual aurora borealis. Something that many from around the world travel thousands of miles to witness and this showed up in our own backyard.”

According to the NOAA’s Aurora Forecast, the majority of US households will be able to see the northern lights on Friday and Saturday night as far south as the tip of Florida.

On Friday night and Saturday morning, “extreme” G5 geomagnetic storms were observed, according to the NOAA. The last time a G5 solar storm occurred was in 2003 when it caused major power problems in Sweden and South Africa.

Geomagnetic storms can be caused when the sun sometimes emits a strong surge of solar wind called a coronal mass ejection (CME). Those CMEs can cause geomagnetic storms when directed at the Earth,” according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

“Geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface, potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio and satellite operations,” said USGS.

However, geomagnetic storms can also trigger spectacular displays of aurora on Earth.

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center rates the strength of solar storms on a G scale — from G1 to G5. The current storm was initially rated as G4 severity, though it ultimately intensified to G5. The severity is what makes the storm so unique.

“This is an unusual and potentially historic event,” said Clinton Wallace, Director of NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.