What is a G5 geomagnetic storm?

(NEXSTAR) — On Friday night, the most significant G5 geomagnetic storm since 2003 hit Earth, causing some damage. coronal mass ejectionor CME – and many people across the United States will be able to see the Northern Lights, which they normally wouldn’t be able to see.

But what exactly does this mean? average?

First, as explained by Nexstar’s weather team: wagon tv In Chicago, a geomagnetic storm is a “disturbance of the Earth’s magnetosphere caused by solar wind activity.” Winds from these storms can cause aurora borealis in the sky, in addition to potentially disrupting satellite communications.

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) rates the strength of solar storms on a G scale from G1 to G5. The current storm was initially rated as G4 severity, but eventually became more intense.

One reason this event is so rare is its severity. Even if this storm were considered a G4, it would have been the first time a storm of this strength hit the Earth since the Bush administration (January 2005).

SWPC space scientist Robert Steenberg explained that when a CME (explosion of plasma and magnetic material from the Sun) reaches Earth, it carries with it its own magnetic field.this did it This may affect power grids, wireless communications, etc.

According to NOAA, the difference between G4 and G5 storms is that G4 can have widespread power issues and glitches. G5 storms can cause complete power outages and power grid collapse.

In a G4, the aurora can be seen in low-lying areas of the United States such as Alabama and northern California, while in a G5 storm, the aurora can be seen from low-lying areas in Florida and southern Texas.

Residents of several US states reported seeing the Northern Lights on Friday night. illinois, colorado, georgiaNew York, and florida.by NOAA aurora forecastthe majority of households that saw the aurora last night will have a chance to see the aurora on Saturday.

The Space Weather Prediction Center said Saturday’s auroral activity could even continue into Sunday and early next week, as solar activity remains particularly strong.

These geomagnetic storm threats continue until the active sunspot cloud, which is about 16 times the diameter of Earth, rotates out of our view. This may take several days.

If you’re in an area where heavy rain isn’t expected this weekend, the best time to see the lights is between 10pm and 2am local time. Even if you don’t see anything when you look up, someone with a new cell phone might be able to capture a better view than what the human eye can see.