Northern lights this weekend? Auroras could be visible as far south as Alabama.

[usonian]

Even space is stormy.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/weather/2024/05/09/northern-lights-forecast-auroras-possible-this-weekend/73629276007/

Skywatchers get ready: Thanks to heightened solar activity, the aurora borealis could be coming to the skies above a large portion of the United States this weekend, space weather forecasters said Thursday.

Federal forecasters from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center said that during previous solar activity of this magnitude, the "aurora has been seen as low as Alabama and northern California." Experts say the aurora might be visible Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights.

The spectacle would be courtesy of a series of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun, which are forecast to reach the Earth early this weekend and produce the geomagnetic storms that trigger auroras. A G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm watch is in effect for Saturday May 11, NOAA said.

...

The best aurora is usually within an hour or two of midnight (between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. local time). These hours expand towards evening and morning as the level of geomagnetic activity increases.

[Backseat Driver]

1. Seeing the Northern Lights all over Ohio last hour...wow, pink to purple and greenish blue.

I've seen them once before. Everyone was pulling of the highway to gaze up at the display. Tonight's display is much more vivid! What a treat after chasing the sky for funnel clouds and tornados!

[usonian]

2. That's just great!

Enjoy.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. WaPo:

Most extreme solar storm in 20 years brings beautiful northern lights
An extreme geomagnetic storm hit Earth for the first time in over 20 years, causing stunning aurora displays across northern Europe and very low latitudes in the U.S.

By Kasha Patel
Updated May 11, 2024 at 2:38 a.m. EDT | Published May 10, 2024 at 10:40 p.m. EDT

{snip}

Frances Vinall contributed to this report.

By Kasha Patel
Kasha Patel writes the weekly Hidden Planet column, which covers scientific topics related to Earth, from our inner core to space storms aimed at our planet. She also covers weather, climate and environment news. Twitter https://twitter.com/KashaPatel

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ditunothearme

John Deere sending out text last night to advise everyone using GPS on planter tractors that signals were being interrupted by the solar storm. Could be some wide rows today.