5 Things You Need to Know About the Geomagnetic Storm Lighting Up the Sky Tonight
- The storm reached a severe G4 level late Tuesday night, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting it could intensify to G5, the highest category. This makes it one of the strongest events in over two decades, with potential to disrupt power grids and satellite communications.
- For skywatchers, the most exciting effect is the aurora borealis, which could be visible as far south as Alabama and Northern California tonight. The Northern Lights will appear as vibrant green, red, and purple curtains dancing across the sky, best seen from dark locations away from city lights.
- The storm is caused by a cluster of powerful solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun, which are hurling charged particles toward Earth at millions of miles per hour. These particles interact with our magnetic field, creating the stunning light show and potential tech chaos.
- High-frequency radio and GPS systems are at risk of blackout or severe degradation, affecting everything from airline flights to emergency services. Airlines have already rerouted some polar flights, and farmers using precision GPS for planting may face delays.
- To stay safe and informed, check your local weather service for aurora visibility windows and sign up for alerts from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. If you see the lights, capture them with a long-exposure camera shot, but never look directly at the sun to avoid eye damage—the storm is harmless to humans on the ground.