Severe solar storm could trigger auroras in Canada and North American states tonight
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Space weather forecasters issued an alert Tuesday for severe solar storms that could produce colorful northern lights and temporarily disrupt communications.
Over the past few days, the Sun has fired several bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections that could reach Earth Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Forecasters at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) say potentially severe geomagnetic storms could disrupt radio and GPS communications.
according to Mapping by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction CenterLive performances can be seen across almost all of Canada and several US states on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
How bright the auroras are and how far south they appear will depend on when the solar bursts arrive and how they interact with Earth’s atmosphere.
How do the northern lights happen?
The Sun is at maximum phase of its 11-year activity cycle, making light displays more common and widespread.
Colorful northern lights have decorated the night sky in unexpected places, and space weather experts say there are still more auroras to come.
The Northern Lights are a dazzling sight that can be seen in many parts of Canada. According to NASA, we are currently in the middle of solar maximum, which means 2025 could be a better year than usual for seeing the northern lights. Press Play to find out why the Northern Lights form!
Aurora displays, known as the northern and southern lights, typically appear near the poles, where charged particles from the Sun interact with Earth’s atmosphere.
Skygazers are seeing the lights deepen across Canada, the United States and Europe as the sun undergoes a major change. Every 11 years, its poles change positions, causing magnetic turns and entanglements along the way.
Last year, the most powerful geomagnetic storm in two decades slammed the Earth, causing blackouts across the entire Northern Hemisphere. And soon after, a powerful solar storm dazzled the sky far from the Arctic Circle, when dancing lights appeared in unexpected places, including Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York City.
According to NASA and NOAA, the Sun’s active growth is expected to last until at least the end of this year, although when solar activity will peak will not be known until months later.
How do solar storms affect the Earth?
Solar storms can bring more than colorful lights to Earth. When fast-moving particles and plasma collide with Earth’s magnetic field, they can temporarily disrupt the power grid.
Space weather can also interfere with air traffic control radios and satellites in orbit. Severe storms are capable of disrupting other radio and GPS communications.
In 1859, a fierce solar storm produced auroras south of Hawaii and set fire to telegraph lines in a rare occurrence. And the 1972 solar storm may have detonated magnetic American sea mines off the coast of Vietnam.
Space weather experts are not able to predict solar storms months in advance. Instead, they alert concerned parties to prepare in the days before a solar eruption hits Earth.
how to see aurora
Northern lights forecasts can be found on NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center website or the Aurora Forecasting App.
Consider watching the aurora in a quiet, dark area away from city lights. Experts recommend viewing the sky from a local or national park. And check the weather forecast, as clouds may completely obscure the view.
Taking photos with a smartphone camera can also reveal signs of aurora that are not visible to the naked eye.
