A severe geomagnetic storm that hit Earth has the potential to knock out electricity and electronics this weekend, but it could also bring a spectacular light show from the sky. northern Lights as far south as Alabama and Northern California.
After days of increased solar activity, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center on Thursday released its first monitoring of a G4 storm — the second strongest rating on a scale from G1 to G5 — in nearly 20 years . He then upgraded it to a G5 on Friday.
The prediction center reported in a social media post, “extreme geomagnetic conditions (G5)” were “observed” for the first time since October 2003. Friday’s G5 conditions were first observed at 6:54 p.m. ‘East and could continue throughout the weekend, the agency said.
The 2003 G5 storm caused power outages in Sweden and damaged transformers in South Africa, according to the forecast center.
“Geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on the Earth’s surface, potentially disrupting communications, the power grid, navigation, radio and satellite operations,” NOAA said in a statement. previous press release. “(The Space Weather Prediction Center) has informed the operators of these systems so they can take protective measures.”
Risks for the electricity network
A G5 geomagnetic storm is considered “extreme” and has the potential to cause widespread voltage control issues on the power grid, damage transformers and even cause complete outages. According to NOAA, in a G5, “high-frequency radio propagation may be impossible in many areas for one to two days, satellite navigation may be impaired for days” and “low-frequency radio navigation may be interrupted for hours “.
These types of effects on electrical systems were first observed in 1940 and have been reported over the years, with incidents including a power outage in 1958, equipment tripping and voltage stability problems in 1972 and a nine-hour power outage in Canada in 1989, according to NOAA.
The last time there was a G5 or “extreme” geomagnetic storm was in October 2003, when it caused power outages in Sweden and damaged transformers in South Africa.
Effect on satellite and radio operations
As of Friday afternoon, NOAA had also observed a moderate solar radiation storm that could expose passengers on high-flying planes to a “high radiation risk” and cause infrequent problems with satellite operations.
With a G5 storm, “satellite navigation could be impaired for days,” he warns.
Radio outages were also detected with an R3 designation, meaning the outages were “severe” on a scale from R1 (minor) to R5 (extreme). At this level, wide outages of high-frequency radio communication are expected, as well as loss of radio contact, for about an hour on the sunny side of Earth, while low-frequency navigation signals fade for about an hour.
Expansion of the Northern Lights
The same phenomenon that causes these disturbances is also responsible for making the Northern Lights visible in places where you normally can’t see them.
“The Earth’s magnetic field guides the electrons such that the aurora forms two ovals approximately centered on the magnetic poles,” NOAA said. “During major geomagnetic storms, these ovals expand away from the poles, so auroras can be seen over most of the United States.”
Vivid displays were visible in parts of Europe and the United Kingdom on Friday evening.
Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images
“If you’re in an area where it’s dark, cloudless and relatively unpolluted by light, you might be able to see a pretty impressive aurora show,” said Rob Steenburgh, a space scientist at the Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space Weather Prediction Tool. , told reporters on Friday. “and that’s truly the gift of space weather, it’s the aurora.”
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