Northern Lights may illuminate the skies in Virginia over the next two days due to a rare geomagnetic storm.
One expert said we are “in for a ride” with the current solar cycle activity that runs through 2026 and is expected to reach solar maximum next year.
Shawn Dahl, the Space Weather Prediction Center service coordinator, said in a media briefing on Wednesday that the potential is there for G3 or stronger levels for the next two days.
The geomagnetic storm is due to a strong solar flare that began on Oct. 8. The coronal mass ejection, or CME, arrived at nearly 1.5 million miles per hour, according to a news release.
For more information, visit https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/
Aurora images in Virginia this week
Virginians already captured photos of auroras this week with many posting snapshots of the glow on social media.
- October 8: Northern Virginia
- October 7: Shenandoah Valley
- October 6: Virginia
- October 6: Elkton
- October 6: Botetourt County
The last time a G5 geomagnetic storm led to visible auroras in Virginia was in May. Viewers saw hues of purple, pink, blue, yellow and green.
Storm levels and warnings
- G3 (strong) or greater warnings have been issued for Oct. 10-11.
- G4 (severe) levels remain likely for Oct. 10-11.
- There is a slight chance of G5 (extreme) levels on Oct. 10-11 due to the strength of the coronal mass ejection.
Viewing the aurora
A 30-minute forecast for viewing the aurora is available online. There are also multiple phone apps that give you the best times to view in your area.
- The best conditions to view Northern Lights are usually between 10 a.m. and 2 a.m.
- This storm may be strong enough to view with the naked eye.
- When the aurora is too dim for humans to see it, a digital camera may be able to detect the aurora.
- Your phone camera may also work but set it to night mode with a long exposure for best results.
- To view the aurora, it must be dark. SWPC recommends getting away from city lights.
- A rainbow of colors is possible, but the most common auroral color is pale green. Pink and purple colors are also possible. A red aurora is rare.
Hurricane recovery efforts
The storm could impact ongoing recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.
The SWPC has updated FEMA and several state agencies involved in recovery operations.
Potential impacts
There could be some effects to the power grid, satellite ops and GPS from the storm, according to the National Weather Service.
- Communications: Systems that depend on low-Earth orbit satellites or high-frequency communication may experience disruptions
- Power grids: The storm could put additional stress on power grids already weakened by the hurricanes
- GPS services: Navigation systems, especially those relied upon in disaster relief, may be degraded
Wednesday briefing from NOAA
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Crystal Graham
