'Severe' geomagnetic storm could bring Northern Lights displays as far south as Alabama, California
Emilee Speck, Julian Atienza, Brian Donegan
Updated January 1, 2025 at 7:52 PM
JUNEAU, Alaska - After a bevy of solar activity, the new year started with a dazzling display of Aurora lights, with Alaska seeing most of the action.
And if you missed out on the Northern Lights on New Year's Eve, you'll have another chance Wednesday night as a "severe" geomagnetic storm is now underway and could bring Aurora displays as far south as Alabama and Northern California.
Why 2024 Was A Big Deal For The Sun
NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) and Nasa satellites have been monitoring recent activity of strong solar flares, which originate from sunspot regions.
"A flurry of activity occurred the weekend of 28-29 December as active regions and (Sun) spot groups became unstable," the SWPC said.
The SWPC said the Sun erupted a "litany" of minor to strong flares with associated coronal mass ejections (CME).
One of those CMEs arrived in Earth's atmosphere on Tuesday afternoon. As a result, the SWPC issued a "Severe" Geomagnetic Storm Warning, which has now been extended through Wednesday night.
What Causes The Northern Lights?
Severe geomagnetic storms are not frequent but not uncommon. A severe solar storm can produce Northern Lights much farther south than usual, including parts of the southern U.s.
"Aurora may be seen as low as Alabama and Northern California," the SWPC said in the Geomagnetic Storm Warning.
Solar storms are rated by the SWPC on a five-level scale, with five being the most extreme and rarest space weather conditions. Level 4 out of 5, or severe, geomagnetic storm conditions were observed Wednesday afternoon.
On New Year's Eve, the National Weather Service in Juneau, Alaska, posted images of the Northern Lights it captured on social media.
See More: Extreme Geomagnetic Storm Triggers Jaw-dropping Auroras Around The World
One potential benefit of the timing of the space weather event is that Aurora chasers have a recent new Moon on their side. Monday marked a rare second new Moon of the month, known as a Black Moon. With no moonlight to interfere, skygazers hoping to spot Aurora lights or far-away planets will have a better chance.
To spot the Northern Lights, move as far away from city lights as you can. If the Aurora lights aren't visible to the naked eye, check your smartphone camera, and you might be surprised by what you see.
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Original article source: 'Severe' geomagnetic storm could bring Northern Lights displays as far south as Alabama, California