NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a Geomagnetic Storm Watch and predicts the storm could reach level 3 on their 5-level scale when the flares arrive around Wednesday evening.
and predicts the storm could reach level 3 on their 5-level scale when the flares arrive around Wednesday evening.
Earth's magnetic field shields us from any human health impacts, but while the storm may cause a few issues with satellite and radio signals, the most visible effect would be a colorful show of the aurora that could be visible at latitudes farther south than usual.Solar activity has been increasing over the last several months as the sun emerges from the lull in its 11-year-solar cycle and begins its trek toward the peak of the current cycle, expected in 2024.
The first solar flare was at around 10 a.m. ET and was quickly overtaken by the larger flare later that afternoon. The energy was forecast to reach Earth's magnetic field around Wednesday evening. Forecasters say these level 3 conditions may be observed on average about 130 days per 11-year solar cycle.Unfortunately, the weather forecast is cloudy Wednesday night for much of the upper Midwest and Great Lakes region. Skies over Northern Lights-favorite areas of Minnesota, Wisconsin and northern Michigan are looking rather gray.
"When are fairly dim, it's harder for your eyes to see the colors and distinguish between city lights," says Don Hampton, a researcher at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. "You want to be out of town a couple of miles. If you can be in a farm field or something, look off to the north with fewer lights."You'll also want to make sure the sun is well below the horizon -- think 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.
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