Devendra Kumar
A strong solar storm is making its way towards Earth, potentially bringing spectacular northern lights displays to the United States and disrupting communications over the weekend. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a rare geomagnetic storm watch, the first in nearly 20 years, which will last from Friday to Sunday.
The sun has been producing strong solar flares since Wednesday, resulting in five massive outbursts of plasma that can disrupt satellites in orbit and power grids on Earth. Each coronal mass ejection, as they are called, can contain billions of tons of solar plasma. The NOAA is describing this event as unusual, noting that the flares seem to be linked to a sunspot that is 16 times the diameter of Earth.
The International Space Environment Service (ISEC) has been monitoring the situation closely, warning that the storm has the potential to cause significant disruptions to Earth’s magnetic field. This could result in communication blackouts, disruptions to GPS signals, and increased radiation exposure for astronauts and airline passengers. Moreover, the storm could also cause power outages, especially in areas with aging infrastructure.
According to NOAA, the storm could produce northern lights displays as far south as Alabama and northern California, a rare occurrence in the United States. The aurora borealis, or northern lights, is typically visible at much higher latitudes, and sightings in the southern states are extremely rare. The last geomagnetic storm of this magnitude occurred in 2003, and it caused widespread power outages in Sweden and damaged power transformers in South Africa.
The National Weather Service has been spreading the word about the approaching storm, urging people to be prepared for possible disruptions to their daily lives. As the storm draws closer, residents in affected areas are advised to monitor local news and weather reports for updates and to take necessary precautions to ensure their safety. With the potential for northern lights displays and communication disruptions, this weekend is shaping up to be an unforgettable one.