**Viral News Snippet:**

Viral News Snippet: “BREAKING: ‘Northern Lights’ Will Be Visible as Far South as FLORIDA This Weekend – But There’s a Catch!”

🚨 VERDICT: MIXED (Real Phenomenon, Exaggerated Claim) 🚨

What’s Going Around: Social media is in a frenzy over claims that a “severe” geomagnetic storm (G5-class) will make the aurora borealis visible from Florida, Texas, and even Mexico starting Friday night. Thousands are resharing a map showing the “view line” dipping deep into the southern U.S.

What’s Actually True: ✅ Yes, a powerful G4-level geomagnetic storm (NOT G5, as some fake screenshots claim) is set to hit Earth on Friday, January 17, due to a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun. ✅ The aurora may indeed dip as far south as the northern tier of Kansas, Iowa, Virginia, and Oregon. ✅ Northern cities like Chicago, New York, and Denver could see vivid, dancing green and red skies – a real treat.

What’s Fake / Exaggerated: ❌ “Visible from Miami” – FAKE. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center says the “view line” will NOT reach south of about the 40th parallel. Florida’s latitude (25°–30°N) is hundreds of miles too far south. ❌ “G5 ‘Extreme’ Storm – FAKE.” The viral graphic swapping “G4” for “G5” is a doctored copy. The actual storm is rated G4, which is strong but not the apocalyptic, transformer-blowing chaos that G5 can cause. ❌ “Red Alert Worldwide Power Outages” – FAKE. No national emergency has been declared.