ORLANDO, Fla. – Yet another geomagnetic storm has flared up, giving some Americans the rare opportunity this week to catch a glimpse of the northern lights.
More specifically, NOAA has issued a geomagnetic storm watch that will span through Saturday, Oct. 5.
The storm is producing the second-largest solar flare of the cycle, meaning that the range of the northern lights will stretch much farther than normal.
During this time, Aurora Borealis may be seen as far south as states like Oregon.
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University of Alaska researchers predict that the geomagnetic activity will be strongest around Saturday evening before gradually dropping off into Sunday morning. As such, this will likely be the best time for people in the affected areas to see the northern lights.
But unlike the powerful G5 geomagnetic storm earlier this year that caused these lights to blossom over Florida, it doesn’t seem as though the Sunshine State will get to enjoy the aurora this time around. The October storm is much less powerful, meaning the chances of seeing these lights from Florida are almost nil.
So what would it take to get the bucket-list phenomenon back to Florida?
To answer that question, let’s first break down what the Aurora Borealis are and how they come to be.
What Are The Aurora Borealis? (Northern Lights)
The Aurora Borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, are vibrant dancing ribbons of light that form as a result of electrons colliding with Earth’s upper atmosphere.
The solar wind, charged protons and electrons emitted from the sun, first interacts with and significantly disturbs Earth’s magnetic field causing a geomagnetic storm.
Those particles follow Earth’s magnetic field and enter the Earth’s atmosphere at or around the poles. This is where the magnetic field is at its weakest.
Those electrons then interact with and excite molecules in Earth’s atmosphere. The excitement of the molecules results in the production of vibrant colors in the sky.
The largest geomagnetic storms are caused by a coronal mass ejection (CME) — a large ejection of the sun’s magnetic field and plasma.
How can Florida catch a glimpse?
So you’re telling me there’s a chance?
Similar to hurricanes, geomagnetic storms are rated on a scale, with a G1 storm being rated minor to a G5 storm being extreme. When a G5 storm is ongoing, it is possible that the Aurora could be seen low on the Florida horizon.
However, G5 storms are very rare, occurring roughly four times per solar cycle. A solar cycle lasts for 11 years.
In 2024, the sun is closing in on its solar maximum, meaning CMEs can occur more frequently increasing the chances of an extreme geomagnetic storm.
It is important to note that the storm also has to time out right and impact the earth while it is nighttime in Florida. The skies have to be clear as well to see the northern lights.
The iconic photos of the northern lights you may be familiar with reveal bright green or purple colors. In Florida, the Aurora is predominantly red. This all has to do with the altitude of the oxygen atoms responsible for the northern lights.
Green auroras are generated by oxygen atoms approximately 93 miles above Earth’s surface, whereas red auroras result from oxygen atoms between 93 miles) and 310 miles above the surface.
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