The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center has just issued a G3-level geomagnetic storm watch for tonight into tomorrow morning (11/30 – 12/1) due to multiple recent solar eruptions, which could bring the ‘Northern Lights‘ as far south as North Carolina.
CMEs (Coronal Mass Ejections), which send plasma clouds towards Earth, can take 1-3 days to impact Earth’s atmosphere.
The US Geophysical Institute is now forecasting rare KP-7 event from the CMEs peaking tonight between 1am and 4am (the early morning of 12/1):
A M 9.8 solar flare from the recent CMEs has already caused a high-frequency radio blackout over the eastern South Pacific.
.@NOAA‘s #SUVI instrument onboard #GOESEast spotted a strong #SolarFlare yesterday.
The bright flare created temporary radio blackouts on the sunlit side of Earth and can be seen in this imagery just below the center of the sun. ✨
Learn more @NWSSWPC: https://t.co/j1hBahA71S pic.twitter.com/QgYKH9ouLj
— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) November 29, 2023
Northern Lights lit up the North Carolina sky for the third time this year on Nov. 5th after an exceptionally powerful CME from the sun blasted our magnetosphere, similar to what is expected to happen tonight.
One of the most epic shots you’ll ever see of the #northernlights and the #MilkyWay This was over Waynesville, NC last night. Thanks for the photo Ezekiel Coppersmith. #scwx #ncwx pic.twitter.com/t1lWFfE2Py
— Ed Piotrowski (@EdPiotrowski) November 6, 2023
If you want to get your own shots of the stunning aurora tonight, you’ll need a long-exposure camera and a very dark place where you have an unobstructed view toward the northern sky. The best place would be a remote mountain top along the blue ridge parkway with north-facing views.
You can find the dark spots in your area using the official light pollution map here.
Happy aurora hunting!
