SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A geomagnetic storm, considered 'strong' and a 3 out of 5 on NOAA's scale, is expected to bring the aurora borealis as far south as Oregon and even portions of Northern California.
A geomagnetic storm is a major disturbance of Earth's magnetosphere that occurs when there is a very efficient exchange of energy from the solar wind into the space environment surrounding Earth, according to NOAA.
The increase in solar activity is due to a series of coronal mass ejections (CME) dating back to Aug. 14. According to NASA, the plasma ejected by the sun interacts with the magnetosphere, and the particles can collide with atoms and molecules in Earth’s upper atmosphere, an interaction that provides the atoms with extra energy, which is released as a burst of light. This burst of light is what constitutes the colorful display that is the aurora borealis.
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The storm is unlikely to cause any serious disruptions to GPS or satellites. G4 or G5 events are considered much more serious. The strongest known solar storm, the Carrington Event, occurred in 1859.
The event resulted in telegraph systems going "haywire" and auroral activity visible as far south as the tropics, according to NASA Science. A similar event today would likely cause power grid failure. NASA expects a ramp up of solar activity in the coming years as we approach a solar maximum in 2025.
G1 conditions are expected Wednesday and G2 conditions are expected Friday, but viewing of this event is expected to peak Thursday night. Under clear skies, viewers should look north and low on the horizon to see the solar show.
For the most up to date information on the geomagnetic storm, head to https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast.
