Extreme Geomagnetic Storm To Impact Earth TONIGHT...

Max Velocity - Severe Weather Center

11 May 202408:17

Summary

TLDRFor the second consecutive night, an extreme solar storm is set to grace the United States, potentially offering sightings of the Northern Lights across a vast expanse of the country. However, visibility will be contingent upon local weather conditions, with cloud cover in the Midwest, Northeast, and Southern Plains posing a significant challenge. The storm, classified as a G5 on the geomagnetic scale, could lead to power outages and navigation system disruptions. Last night, the rare phenomenon was visible as far south as Florida and Texas, a spectacle not witnessed in 21 years. The forecast for tonight suggests high confidence in Northern Light sightings north of a line stretching from the Red River Valley to Northern Virginia, with medium confidence in areas like Central Texas and the Florida Peninsula. Despite the unpredictability of solar forecasts, the K Index indicates a strong potential for another spectacular display tonight.

Takeaways

🌌 An extreme solar storm is causing the Northern Lights to be visible across a large portion of the United States for the second night in a row.
⛅ Weather conditions and cloud cover will impact visibility of the Northern Lights, with some areas such as the Northeast and Midwest having reduced chances due to low pressure systems.
🌤 Drying conditions in the Midwest may allow for better visibility of the auroras, despite some lingering cloud cover from southern Canada.
🚫 The Southern Plains and Rocky Mountains are expected to have significant cloud cover, reducing the likelihood of Northern Lights visibility in areas like Texas.
☀ High pressure in the Southeast should result in limited cloud cover, increasing the chances of seeing the Northern Lights there.
🌟 Northern Lights were surprisingly visible as far south as Florida last night, which is very rare.
🌧 Increased rain and cloud cover in the Northeast and Central Plains are expected to further limit visibility tonight.
📸 Photos from last night show the Northern Lights were visible without a camera, to the naked eye, in places like Texas.
⚡ The geomagnetic storm is likely a G5, which is an extreme level, potentially causing power outages and affecting navigation systems.
📉 The K Index has been high, indicating a strong likelihood of Northern Lights visibility as far south as Texas and Florida.
📈 The forecast confidence for seeing the Northern Lights is high in areas north of a line drawn from the Red River Valley in Texas to Northern Virginia, with medium confidence in areas like the Florida Peninsula and Central Texas.

Q & A

What is causing the northern lights to be visible across a large portion of the United States?
-An extreme solar storm is causing the northern lights to be visible. This is the second night in a row that such a storm is affecting the United States.
Why might some areas not be able to see the northern lights?
-Some areas may not see the northern lights due to weather conditions such as cloud cover or because the solar storm might not reach their location.
What is the current weather situation in the Northeast of the United States?
-There is a large scale low pressure system across parts of the Midwest and the Northeast, leading to likely cloud cover and reduced visibility of the northern lights.
How is the weather in the Midwest affecting the potential to see the northern lights?
-While the Midwest is drying out with drier air, there is lingering cloud cover in southern Canada that might affect visibility, although it is not expected to be a major issue.
What is the weather forecast for the Southern Plains and the Rocky Mountains?
-There will be a lot of cloud cover in these areas due to a low pressure system, which is expected to persist for the next few days, making it difficult to see the northern lights.
Why is the Southeast expected to have a better chance of seeing the northern lights?
-High pressure is building in the Southeast, leading to limited cloud cover and a better chance of visibility for the northern lights.
What is the significance of the northern lights being seen in Florida?
-Seeing the northern lights in Florida is very rare; the last time it happened was 21 years ago, making it a significant and unusual event.
What is the potential impact of the geomagnetic storm on power grids and navigation systems?
-The geomagnetic storm, likely to be a G5 level, could cause blackouts or complete collapses of power grids and disrupt navigation systems for hours or days.
What does the K Index indicate about the potential visibility of the northern lights?
-The K Index, which has been spiking, indicates a high level of geomagnetic activity that should allow the northern lights to be visible as far south as Texas and Florida.
What are the conditions for a high confidence level in seeing the northern lights according to the forecast?
-High confidence levels for seeing the northern lights are in areas with little to no cloud cover, particularly north of a line drawn from the Red River Valley in Texas to parts of Northern Virginia.
What precautions are advised for those hoping to see the northern lights?
-People should check for cloud cover in their area as it can obstruct the view. Also, they should be aware that forecasts for solar events can be inaccurate, with the possibility of a big hit or a miss.
How can viewers share their northern lights sightings?
-Viewers can share their photos of the northern lights by tagging the presenter on Twitter at 'Max velocity WX' or by following and interacting on the Facebook page linked in the video description.

Outlines

00:00

🌌 Northern Lights Forecast Amidst Solar Storm

The video discusses an extreme solar storm leading to the potential visibility of the Northern Lights across a large portion of the United States. However, weather conditions and the extent of the solar storm's reach will determine who can see the auroras. A large-scale low-pressure system is causing cloud cover, which may obstruct the view in places like the Northeast and Midwest. The Southern Plains and Rocky Mountains are also expected to have significant cloud cover, impacting visibility. The Southeast is expected to have clearer skies due to high pressure, increasing the chances of Northern Lights visibility. The video also mentions the rarity of seeing Northern Lights in Florida and the potential for geomagnetic storms to cause power outages and affect navigation systems.

05:02

📈 K-Index and Northern Lights Viewing Probability

The video script provides an analysis of the K-Index, a three-hour data set indicating the occurrence of solar flares and their impact on the potential to see the Northern Lights. The index has been high, suggesting a strong possibility of auroral activity as far south as Texas and Florida. The forecast for the Northern Lights includes areas of high, medium, and very low confidence for visibility. The Northeast, parts of the Midwest, and the Rocky Mountains are expected to have significant cloud cover, reducing the chances of seeing the Northern Lights. In contrast, areas north of a certain line have a high probability, while those in between have a 50/50 chance. The video encourages viewers to share photos and stay updated for future forecasts on similar phenomena.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Solar Storm

A solar storm, also known as a space storm or geomagnetic storm, is a temporary disturbance of the Earth's magnetosphere caused by a solar wind shock wave hitting Earth's magnetic field. In the video, it is mentioned as the cause of the northern lights that are visible across the United States, and it is also associated with potential power blackouts and navigation system disruptions.

💡Northern Lights

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, is a natural light display in the Earth's sky, predominantly seen in the high-latitude regions. They are caused by the interaction between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetic field. In the context of the video, the Northern Lights are a central theme, as the forecast discusses the visibility of this phenomenon across different regions of the United States.

💡Low Pressure System

A low pressure system is a region where the atmospheric pressure is lower than the surrounding areas, often associated with cloudy and wet weather. In the video, it is discussed as a weather pattern that could obstruct the visibility of the Northern Lights in certain areas like the Midwest and the Northeast.

💡Cloud Cover

Cloud cover refers to the percentage of the sky obscured by clouds. It is a significant factor in determining the visibility of celestial events like the Northern Lights. The video script discusses how cloud cover in various regions, such as the Northeast and the Southern Plains, may prevent viewers from seeing the auroras.

💡Geomagnetic Storm

A geomagnetic storm is a temporary disturbance of the Earth's magnetosphere that can occur in response to a solar wind shock wave. It is classified on a scale, with G5 being an extreme level as mentioned in the video, which can cause widespread power outages. The script highlights the potential severity of the geomagnetic storm due to the solar storm.

💡K Index

The K Index is a scale used to measure the level of geomagnetic activity, ranging from 0 to 9. It is derived from the range of fluctuations of the horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field. The video mentions the K Index spiking, indicating high levels of solar flares and a higher likelihood of seeing the Northern Lights.

💡Drier Air

Drier air refers to air with low humidity, which is typically associated with clearer skies and less cloud cover. In the context of the video, drier air moving into the Midwest is expected to improve the conditions for viewing the Northern Lights by reducing cloud cover.

💡Rocky Mountains

The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The video discusses the weather conditions in this region, noting that cloud cover in the Rocky Mountains may affect the visibility of the Northern Lights.

💡Gulf Coast

The Gulf Coast refers to the region along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico in the United States. The video mentions that seeing the Northern Lights is very rare in areas south of the Gulf Coast, highlighting the unusual nature of the event being forecasted.

💡Red River Valley

The Red River Valley is a region along the Red River, which forms part of the border between Texas and Oklahoma. The video identifies this area as one where there is a high confidence of seeing the Northern Lights due to the expected weather conditions.

💡Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, known for its warm climate and beaches. The video mentions that seeing the Northern Lights in Florida is very rare, but due to the extreme solar storm, there is a possibility of the phenomenon being visible even as far south as Florida.

Highlights

An extreme solar storm is causing the Northern Lights to be visible across a large portion of the United States for the second night in a row.

Weather conditions and the extent of the solar storm may prevent some areas from seeing the auroras.

A large scale low pressure system across the Midwest and Northeast is causing cloud cover, which may obscure the Northern Lights in those regions.

The Midwest is expected to have drier air and less cloud cover, increasing the chances of seeing the Northern Lights.

Lingering cloud cover in southern Canada might affect visibility in the Midwest and Northern Plains.

The Southern Plains and Rocky Mountains are expected to have persistent cloud cover, reducing the likelihood of seeing the Northern Lights.

Due to a low pressure system, areas like Texas may struggle to see the Northern Lights because of heavy rain and cloud cover.

The Southeast is expected to have high pressure and limited cloud cover, increasing the chances of Northern Lights visibility.

Northern Lights were surprisingly seen in a large part of Florida, a rare occurrence.

The geomagnetic storm is likely to be a G5, an extreme level, which could potentially cause power outages and affect navigation systems.

The K Index has been high, indicating a strong possibility of Northern Lights being visible as far south as Texas.

The forecast shows high confidence for Northern Lights visibility in areas north of a line from the Red River Valley to Northern Virginia.

There is a medium confidence level for seeing the Northern Lights in areas closer to the Florida Peninsula and Central Texas.

The forecast for the Northern Lights is uncertain and can be inaccurate, with a hit-or-miss outcome.

The Northern Lights were visible to the naked eye in Texas and Florida, a phenomenon not seen in 21 years.

Photos of the Northern Lights in Texas and Florida have been shared, showcasing the rare event.

The channel will provide more forecasts like this in the future, and viewers are encouraged to share their photos on social media.