NOAA Warns of Rare Geomagnetic Storm That May Knock Out GPS and Trigger Colorful Auroras Across the U.S. This Weekend
Scrolling through Twitter this morning, you might see alarming claims that a geomagnetic storm will "destroy the internet" or "cause power grid failures worldwide." While a strong G3-level geomagnetic storm watch has been issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for this weekend, the reality is more measured.
Myth: The storm will cause a global internet apocalypse.
Fact: Experts say the storm will primarily affect high-frequency radio communication and satellite-based GPS systems, especially for precision agriculture and aviation. The internet's fiber-optic backbone is not at risk.
Myth: Everyone on the East Coast will see the Northern Lights.
Fact: Auroras could be visible as far south as Illinois and Oregon. However, light pollution and cloud cover in major cities will make them hard to see with the naked eye. The best views will be away from city lights, not in downtown Manhattan.
We checked with NASA and NOAA. The official forecast calls for a "G3 Strong" event, not an extinction-level "G5 Extreme." The best advice for this weekend: charge your phone, skip the panic, and if you are in a rural area, look up at the sky around midnight. If you live in a city, a social media hoax is the only thing you should be wary of.