Intense geomagnetic storms could make auroras visible in southern US | US weather
One forecast indicates that the aurora borealis could be visible Monday night in Canada and most of the northern reaches of U.S. states, and possibly further south following a major disturbance in the Earth’s magnetic field.
The forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s space weather forecast center comes amid intense geomagnetic and solar radiation storms, said Shawn Dahl, the center’s service coordinator.
Geomagnetic storms can cause the aurora to appear much further south than usually seen.
But storms can also impact satellite operations, GPS communications and other infrastructure, according to the US Geological Survey.
The intensity of this storm hasn’t been seen in more than two decades, Dahl said. The storm is not expected to weaken further until Tuesday.
In November, solar storms brought vibrant auroras to parts of Europe, including Hungary and the United Kingdom, and parts of the United States as far away as Kansas, Colorado and Texas.
