Have weekend plans? Maybe stare at the sky with a pencil. And carry batteries and a weather radio with you, just in case. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a severe geomagnetic storm warning starting Friday, May 10.
“At least five Earth-directed coronal mass ejections have been observed and are expected to arrive as early as noon on Friday, May 10, 2024, and last until Sunday, May 12, 2024,” the center noted. “Several have been observed over the past few days. Sub-intense flares associated with a large and magnetically complex sunspot cluster 16 times the diameter of the Earth.”
In most cases, geomagnetic storms cause little or no disruption to the Earth, with radio communications and satellites being the most affected. In extreme cases, geomagnetic storms can cause severe and potentially life-threatening power outages, as well as problems with satellite systems and radio communications.
“Geomagnetic storms may impact infrastructure in low Earth orbit and on the Earth’s surface, potentially disrupting communications, power grids, navigation, radio and satellite operations,” NOAA said, adding that representatives from the center have notified operators of those systems that so that they can take protective action.
The Washington Post noted that “anyone using high-frequency radios in aurora viewing areas may experience some interference,” but also reported that most people will not be affected and do not need to take any special precautions , in addition to measures to be taken in response to any storm.
Because consumer wireless networks use different radio frequencies, CNN notes that your phone is unlikely to be affected. Severe geomagnetic storms could disrupt the power grid, but wireless carriers often have backup and can deploy mobile cell towers,
Tips for viewing the Aurora
In most cases, geomagnetic storms also provide unique opportunities to see auroras in the night sky. When storms hit, the plasma they carry creates stunning aurorae, lighting up the night sky with brilliant colors. These auroras are especially visible during the strongest stages of storms, making them perfect for stargazing.
“Geomagnetic storms can also trigger spectacular aurora phenomena on Earth,” a NOAA statement said. “Severe geomagnetic storms may result in auroras being seen in southern Alabama and Northern California.”
Where you live, do you never seem to see the aurora? Bill Murtagh, program coordinator at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, talked about this issue with CNET as early as 2022.
(Fishing) is like (hunting for) the aurora,” Murtagh told me at the time. “You might be out looking for the aurora for hours on end, and then, the perfect storm comes and you finally see it.
He also noted that city residents are disadvantaged due to light pollution, which is exactly what it sounds like, the brightening of urban night skies caused by streetlights and other sources. This inhibits our ability to see stars and planets.
But let’s say you drive out of a city or suburb into a rural area with no street lights. There’s another factor you can’t control – the weather. Cloudy weather can cover any state at any time, making auroras even more unpredictable.
Many people travel to Alaska or the northern countries just to see and photograph the auroras. Murtagh recommended Anchorage, Fairbanks, Yukon, Helsinki and northern Scandinavia.
There are even travel planners now organizing trips to various places in the hope of seeing the Aurora.
