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Tag: geomagnetic storm

  • Aurora dazzle DC area with northern lights – WTOP News

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    Sky watchers in the D.C. region may get another chance to see aurora Wednesday night after a dazzling show of northern lights Tuesday.

    On Tuesday night into the early hours Wednesday morning, sky watchers were treated to dazzling and colorful aurora throughout North America, including in the D.C. region.

    Listeners witnessed the sky show starting after 8 p.m., as seen in numerous pictures sent to WTOP.

    The aurora over Great Falls on Tuesday night.
    (Courtesy Jared Angle)

    Courtesy Jared Angle

    Northern Lights on Wednesday night at Ida Lee, Leesburg, Virginia.
    (Courtesy William Dawe)

    Courtesy William Dawe

    Aurora lights in the sky
    Aurora over Sumerduck, Virginia, on Tuesday night.
    (Courtesy Mark Burge)

    Courtesy Mark Burge

    faint aurora in the sky
    The northern lights were visible along Randolph Road in Rockville around 9 p.m. Tuesday evening.
    (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

    WTOP/Dave Dildine

    northern lights in the sky
    Northern lights are seen in Leesburg, Virginia, on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025.
    (Courtesy William Dawe)

    Courtesy William Dawe

    aurora in the sky
    Aurora seen in Stafford County, Virginia, on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025.
    (Courtesy @NoZoup/X)

    Courtesy @NoZoup/X

    north lights in the sky among the clouds
    Amid the clouds bright and multicolored aurora adorn the Northern horizon.
    (WTOP/Greg Redfern)

    WTOP/Greg Redfern

    northern lights in the sky
    Aurora is seen in Northern Minnesota on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025.
    (Courtesy Kelsey Pinckney)

    Courtesy Kelsey Pinckney

    Fueling the sky spectacle was a powerful Level G4 (Severe) geomagnetic storm that lasted for hours. Two videos from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center explained what was occurring at the onset and later on.

    The center issued a forecast Wednesday morning, which predicted: “G3 levels are currently being observed; G4 levels are still expected.”

    Clear Sky Chart (input your location) is very useful to check sky conditions as well as the NOAA and space related social media sites, EarthSky.org and space.com for aurora viewing updates. There also are aurora apps available as well to help you; I use Aurora Pro and Glendale App.

    Your camera and/or smartphone could have significantly improved your chances of detecting and imaging the aurora due to their digital sensors. Even if you did not see aurora, if you photographed the northern horizon, you may have gotten image of them.

    Using a camera or smartphone that can take exposures of several seconds — including using “Night Sky” or “Low Light” settings if your camera has them — gives you your best shot. Steady the camera or use a tripod for best image results. The camera can capture aurora that your eyes did not.

    Good luck, aurora chasers, let’s hope and be ready for another sky spectacle.

    Follow my daily blog to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration. You can email me at skyguyinva@gmail.com.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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  • What are northern lights? Here’s what to know about auroras.

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    Space weather forecasters issued an alert on Tuesday for incoming severe solar storms that could produce colorful northern lights and temporarily disrupt communications.And the aurora borealis didn’t disappoint, showing up in various parts of the country.In the video player above: Photos show auroras seen in the skies of Nelson County and Virginia Beach, Virginia; South Dakota; Iowa; and Minnesota on Tuesday night.In the past few days, the sun has burped out several bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections that, earlier, forecasters said could reach Earth Tuesday night and early Wednesday. Forecasters warned that geomagnetic storms could disrupt radio and GPS communications, according to forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.How bright the auroras were and how far south they were visible were dependent on when the solar bursts got here and how they interacted with Earth’s atmosphere. How northern lights happenThe sun is at the maximum phase of its 11-year activity cycle, making the light displays more common and widespread. Colorful northern lights have decorated night skies in unexpected places and space weather experts say there are more auroras still to come.Aurora displays known as the northern and southern lights are commonly visible near the poles, where charged particles from the sun interact with Earth’s atmosphere.Skygazers are spotting the lights deeper into the United States and Europe because the sun is going through a major face-lift. Every 11 years, its poles swap places, causing magnetic twists and tangles along the way.Last year, the strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades slammed Earth, producing light displays across the Northern Hemisphere. And soon afterward, a powerful solar storm dazzled skygazers far from the Arctic Circle when dancing lights appeared in unexpected places, including Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York City.The sun’s active spurt is expected to last at least through the end of this year, though when solar activity will peak won’t be known until months after the fact, according to NASA and NOAA.How solar storms affect EarthSolar storms can bring more than colorful lights to Earth.When fast-moving particles and plasma slam into Earth’s magnetic field, they can temporarily disrupt the power grid. Space weather can also interfere with air traffic control, radio and satellites in orbit. Severe storms are capable of scrambling other radio and GPS communications.In 1859, a severe solar storm triggered auroras as far south as Hawaii and set telegraph lines on fire in a rare event. And a 1972 solar storm may have detonated magnetic U.S. sea mines off the coast of Vietnam.Space weather experts aren’t able to predict a solar storm months in advance. Instead, they alert relevant parties to prepare in the days before a solar outburst hits Earth.How to see aurorasNorthern lights forecasts can be found on NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center website or an aurora forecasting app.Consider aurora-watching in a quiet, dark area away from city lights. Experts recommend skygazing from a local or national park. And check the weather forecast because clouds can cover up the spectacle entirely.Taking a picture with a smartphone camera may also reveal hints of the aurora that aren’t visible to the naked eye.

    (VIDEO ABOVE: Tommy Stafford, John Mitchell, Matthew Dux, Matt Beatty, Ali Roux Gaudette via CNN Newsource) —

    Space weather forecasters issued an alert on Tuesday for incoming severe solar storms that could produce colorful northern lights and temporarily disrupt communications.

    And the aurora borealis didn’t disappoint, showing up in various parts of the country.

    In the video player above: Photos show auroras seen in the skies of Nelson County and Virginia Beach, Virginia; South Dakota; Iowa; and Minnesota on Tuesday night.

    In the past few days, the sun has burped out several bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections that, earlier, forecasters said could reach Earth Tuesday night and early Wednesday. Forecasters warned that geomagnetic storms could disrupt radio and GPS communications, according to forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

    How bright the auroras were and how far south they were visible were dependent on when the solar bursts got here and how they interacted with Earth’s atmosphere.

    How northern lights happen

    The sun is at the maximum phase of its 11-year activity cycle, making the light displays more common and widespread. Colorful northern lights have decorated night skies in unexpected places and space weather experts say there are more auroras still to come.

    Aurora displays known as the northern and southern lights are commonly visible near the poles, where charged particles from the sun interact with Earth’s atmosphere.

    Skygazers are spotting the lights deeper into the United States and Europe because the sun is going through a major face-lift. Every 11 years, its poles swap places, causing magnetic twists and tangles along the way.

    Last year, the strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades slammed Earth, producing light displays across the Northern Hemisphere. And soon afterward, a powerful solar storm dazzled skygazers far from the Arctic Circle when dancing lights appeared in unexpected places, including Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York City.

    The sun’s active spurt is expected to last at least through the end of this year, though when solar activity will peak won’t be known until months after the fact, according to NASA and NOAA.

    How solar storms affect Earth

    Solar storms can bring more than colorful lights to Earth.

    When fast-moving particles and plasma slam into Earth’s magnetic field, they can temporarily disrupt the power grid. Space weather can also interfere with air traffic control, radio and satellites in orbit. Severe storms are capable of scrambling other radio and GPS communications.

    In 1859, a severe solar storm triggered auroras as far south as Hawaii and set telegraph lines on fire in a rare event. And a 1972 solar storm may have detonated magnetic U.S. sea mines off the coast of Vietnam.

    Space weather experts aren’t able to predict a solar storm months in advance. Instead, they alert relevant parties to prepare in the days before a solar outburst hits Earth.

    How to see auroras

    Northern lights forecasts can be found on NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center website or an aurora forecasting app.

    Consider aurora-watching in a quiet, dark area away from city lights. Experts recommend skygazing from a local or national park. And check the weather forecast because clouds can cover up the spectacle entirely.

    Taking a picture with a smartphone camera may also reveal hints of the aurora that aren’t visible to the naked eye.

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  • The DC area is in for another geomagnetic storm — which means another opportunity to see the Northern Lights – WTOP News

    The DC area is in for another geomagnetic storm — which means another opportunity to see the Northern Lights – WTOP News

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    For skywatchers and wannabe Aurora (Northern lights) chasers, space weather conditions are currently predicted to be favorable Monday night.

    Monday, July 29, 2024’s sun imaged with a telescope and solar filter. (WTOP/Greg Redfern)

    Here we go again.

    For skywatchers and wannabe Northern Lights chasers, space weather conditions are currently predicted by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) to be favorable Monday night.

    The current predicted line of visibility on the northern horizon is in the lower part of Pennsylvania. That is close enough to make it worth the D.C. area taking a look. I expect this forecast will change as the day goes on, since space weather conditions are still developing. SWPC will issue updates as they are warranted.

    Geomagnetic storm watches are out Monday to Wednesday due to a number of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) — large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the sun’s corona in the outermost part of the sun’s atmosphere, according to NOAA.

    Solar activity was elevated through the weekend and various events, including solar flares and filament eruptions associated with CMEs, NOAA SWPC said. Some CMEs could arrive Tuesday and into Wednesday. NOAA said the ones that arrived Monday could result in G1 or minor storm levels, but most of the activity will liley take place on Tuesday, when CMEs from Saturday and Sunday arrive.

    “This could lead to G2-G3 levels as indicated by the WSA-Enlil model,” NOAA SWPC said, with more continuing into Wednesday.

    This geomagnetic storm and associated aurora event are not predicted to reach the historic levels, such as the last one on May 10. It’s far more likely that we could experience an event like in March, which involved a similar G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm. NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found online.

    The best bet is to monitor WTOP Weather for sky conditions, and the NOAA, plus other space-related social media sites, including EarthSky.org, space.com and space weather physicist Tamitha Skov’s X for updates. It will be worth taking a look to the north from a dark sky site with a clear horizon. You might be able to detect some color in the sky if aurora are present but they would likely be low on the northern horizon. Wide field binoculars will help your search.

    Use a camera or smartphone that can take exposures of several seconds — including using “night sky” or “low light” settings if your camera has them — of the northern horizon. Steady the camera or use a tripod for best image results. The camera may capture aurora that your eyes did not.

    The D.C. area had several aurora events visible in 2023, including in March and November. And the area is on a roll for 2024, with more coming in all probability.

    I check spaceweather.com every day just as I do my local weather. The site has a daily snapshot of what the space weather in the solar system is going to be like and a current image of the sun.

    Monday’s posting explains what happened on the sun the past few days to cause the current space weather. My image of Monday’s sun shows a lot of sunspots.

    With terrestrial weather being such a factor in the daily lives here in the D.C. region, and frankly the rest of the world, space weather has a direct effect, and can produce a variety of events, including Monday’s geomagnetic storm and the aurora.

    Space weather, like terrestrial weather, is caused by Earth’s interaction with the sun. While giving warmth and energy every day, what many people may not know is that it undergoes an 11-year solar cycle that can affect space weather throughout the solar system.

    The sun is a 4.5-billion-year-old star that humans have been monitoring since the time of Galileo. Currently, humans have a fleet of spacecraft that monitor the sun and space weather 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

    The sun is currently in Solar Cycle 25 and is at Solar Maximum. At Solar Maximum, the sun produces more sunspots and solar events, which produce space weather events like Monday’s level G3 geomagnetic storm. In fact, solar researches believe the sun is already starting Solar Cycle 26.

    The sun had an episode of disturbed behavior centuries ago. On Sept. 1, 1859, the sun experienced a solar storm episode that was observed by solar astronomer Richard Carrington and ended up bearing his name: “The Carrington Event.” This was a watershed event in solar astronomy and the sun’s effects on the Earth, unlike anything that’s happened since.

    If a Carrington-level solar event were to happen today, the impact on modern society’s infrastructure could be potentially catastrophic, especially the electrical grid which powers everything. If you think this is unlikely or “too sci-fi” to be true, I suggest you read the report by the National Academies of Science published in 2008.

    You listen to WTOP for “traffic and weather together on the 8s.” Maybe now you will want to include a check on space weather, too, as part of your daily weather routine.

    Follow Greg Redfern on Facebook, X and his daily blog to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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  • ‘Extreme’ geomagnetic storm may bless us with more aurora displays tonight and tomorrow

    ‘Extreme’ geomagnetic storm may bless us with more aurora displays tonight and tomorrow

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    The strongest geomagnetic storm in 20 years made the colorful northern lights, or aurora borealis, visible Friday night across the US, even in areas that are normally too far south to see them. And the show may not be over. Tonight may offer another chance to catch the aurora if you have clear skies, according to the NOAA, and Sunday could bring yet more displays reaching as far as Alabama.

    The NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center said on Saturday that the sun has continued to produce powerful solar flares. That’s on top of previously observed coronal mass ejections (CMEs), or explosions of magnetized plasma, that won’t reach Earth until tomorrow. The agency has been monitoring a particularly active sunspot cluster since Wednesday, and confirmed yesterday that it had observed G5 conditions — the level designated “extreme” — which haven’t been seen since October 2003. In a press release on Friday, Clinton Wallace, Director, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, said the current storm is “an unusual and potentially historic event.”

    Geomagnetic storms happen when outbursts from the sun interact with Earth’s magnetosphere. While it all has kind of a scary ring to it, people on the ground don’t really have anything to worry about. As NASA explained on X, “Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth’s atmosphere” to physically affect us. These storms can mess with our technology, though, and have been known to disrupt communications, GPS, satellite operations and even the power grid.

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    Cheyenne MacDonald

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  • Photos: Northern lights put on a show in the Colorado night sky | May 10-11, 2024

    Photos: Northern lights put on a show in the Colorado night sky | May 10-11, 2024

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    A rare, severe geomagnetic storm brought a show to the Colorado skies Friday night.

    Thanks to several strong CMEs – coronal mass ejections – from the sun, the northern lights could be seen throughout the state, and even across the southern U.S.

    Here in Colorado, the clouds held off enough for the shutterbugs in Denver7’s photography group on Facebook – Discover Colorado | Through Your Photos – to capture the aurora from all over the state.

    There is a chance Coloradans will be able to see the northern lights again Saturday night and possibly even Sunday night, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center – though Friday night into Saturday was expected to be the main attraction, Denver7 Chief Meteorologist Mike Nelson said.

    These are a few of our favorites that started pouring in late Friday:

    Jae Jarratt Photography at Eleven Mile Reservoir

    jahnell jones fountain.jpg

    Jahnell Jones in Fountain

    misty mcmanus tabernash.jpg

    Misty McManus in Tabernash

    fred tafoya littleton.jpg

    Fred Tafoya in Littleton

    dennis gellhaus estes park.jpg

    Dennis Gellhaus in Estes Park

    kridsty kay photography wyoming border.jpg

    Kristy Kay Photography near the Colorado-Wyoming border

    andrew darion skyline drive.jpg

    Andrew Darion from Skyline Drive

    austin hawkins superior.jpg

    Austin Hawkins in the Superior/Marshall area

    tullie lochner evergreen.jpg

    Tullie Lochner in Evergreen

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    The Denver7 Team

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  • Geomagnetic storm from a solar flare could disrupt radio communications and create a striking aurora

    Geomagnetic storm from a solar flare could disrupt radio communications and create a striking aurora

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    Geomagnetic storm from a solar flare could disrupt radio communications and create a striking aurora

    Space weather forecasters have issued a geomagnetic storm watch through Monday

    Space weather forecasters have issued a geomagnetic storm watch through Monday, saying an outburst of plasma from a solar flare could interfere with radio transmissions on Earth. It could also make for great aurora viewing.There’s no reason for the public to be concerned, according to the alert issued Saturday by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado.Related video above: Here’s what to expect as the Sun approaches its Solar MaximumThe storm could interrupt high-frequency radio transmissions, such as by aircraft trying to communicate with distant traffic control towers. Most commercial aircraft can use satellite transmission as backup, said Jonathan Lash, a forecaster at the center. Satellite operators might have trouble tracking their spacecraft, and power grids could also see some “induced current” in their lines, though nothing they can’t handle, he said.”For the general public, if you have clear skies at night and you are at higher latitudes, this would be a great opportunity to see the skies light up,” Lash said.Every 11 years, the sun’s magnetic field flips, meaning its north and south poles switch positions. Solar activity changes during that cycle, and it’s now near its most active, called the solar maximum. Related video below: An upcoming period of increased solar activity could help scientists understand some lingering uncertainties about the SunDuring such times, geomagnetic storms of the type that arrived Sunday can hit Earth a few times a year, Lash said. During solar minimum, a few years may pass between storms.In December, the biggest solar flare in years disrupted radio communications.

    BOULDER, Colo. —

    Space weather forecasters have issued a geomagnetic storm watch through Monday, saying an outburst of plasma from a solar flare could interfere with radio transmissions on Earth. It could also make for great aurora viewing.

    There’s no reason for the public to be concerned, according to the alert issued Saturday by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado.

    Related video above: Here’s what to expect as the Sun approaches its Solar Maximum

    The storm could interrupt high-frequency radio transmissions, such as by aircraft trying to communicate with distant traffic control towers. Most commercial aircraft can use satellite transmission as backup, said Jonathan Lash, a forecaster at the center.

    Satellite operators might have trouble tracking their spacecraft, and power grids could also see some “induced current” in their lines, though nothing they can’t handle, he said.

    “For the general public, if you have clear skies at night and you are at higher latitudes, this would be a great opportunity to see the skies light up,” Lash said.

    NASA via AP

    This image provided by NASA shows the Sun seen from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) satellite on Saturday, March 23, 2024. Space weather forecasters have issued a geomagnetic storm watch through Monday, March 25, 2024, saying an ouburst of plasma from a solar flare could interfere with radio transmissions on Earth and make for great aurora viewing. There’s no reason for the public to be concerned, according to the alert issued Saturday night by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colo. (NASA via AP)

    Every 11 years, the sun’s magnetic field flips, meaning its north and south poles switch positions. Solar activity changes during that cycle, and it’s now near its most active, called the solar maximum.

    Related video below: An upcoming period of increased solar activity could help scientists understand some lingering uncertainties about the Sun


    During such times, geomagnetic storms of the type that arrived Sunday can hit Earth a few times a year, Lash said. During solar minimum, a few years may pass between storms.

    In December, the biggest solar flare in years disrupted radio communications.

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