Impending Solar Storm Set to Enhance Northern Lights, Potential Disruptions Warned

Takeaways:

• A severe solar storm is expected to enhance the northern lights on Friday, potentially visible as far south as Alabama in the U.S.

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center issued its first severe geomagnetic storm watch since 2005, warning of possible disruptions to communications, power grids, and satellites.

• The storm, resulting from solar flares and coronal mass ejections, could arrive around 8 p.m. ET on Friday, with the Advanced Composition Explorer spacecraft helping to measure solar wind for more accurate forecasts.

• Several moderate to strong solar flares have been detected, and the geomagnetic storm conditions could persist through the weekend, potentially affecting power grids and satellites similar to past events. The current solar cycle is expected to peak in July 2025.

References:

[1] Severe solar storm expected to supercharge northern lights on Friday. Link

[2] Northern lights in Virginia? Here's how visible aurora borealis will be this weekend. Link

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