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‘Severe’ geomagnetic storm could produce spectacular Northern Lights show over next 2 nights

If you were blown away by the Northern Lights show in May, you will want to make sure you get outside over the next two nights.

Mother Nature appears set to put on another colourful show in the sky thanks to what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has labelled a “severe” G4 geomagnetic storm watch.

“A fast coronal mass ejection (CME) erupted from the Sun the evening of Oct. 8 and is likely to arrive at Earth on Oct. 10,” a release from the NOAA explains. “There is potential to reach G4 upon arrival of this CME and throughout its passage.”

According to the NOAA, an analysis of the CME projects its arrival time to be over the next few hours and produce notable aurora borealis displays on Thursday and Friday nights.

<who>Photo Credit: 123rf

The University of Alaska Fairbanks’ (UAF) aurora forecast shows that the Planetary K-index (Kp) will hit eight tonight and be up around five or six on Friday night.

Used to characterize the magnitude of geomagnetic storms, any Kp measurement of five or more indicates a storm that’s significant enough to produce a Northern Lights display.

The university says that “high(+++) aurora activity” is forecasted, and the Northern Lights could be seen as south as California if skies are clear.

Watches at this level are “very rare,” the NOAA notes, so don’t miss out on the chance to get outdoors and look for the Northern Lights if skies are clear in your community over the next two nights.

While the show may not be overly visible to the naked eye, be sure to take out your phone camera and see what the sky looks like through that!

<who>Photo Credit: University of Alaska Fairbanks

<who>Photo Credit: University of Alaska Fairbanks



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