Geomagnetic storm possible tonight

The Earth wasn’t the only place to have a stormy weekend; so did the Sun. Increased solar activity, including auroras, is possible across Earth through Tuesday.

NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) issued a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch this morning. Confidence that we see "something" also increased overnight from 50% to 95%. The halo clearly seen below is a good indicator that this is Earth-directed.

The geomagnetic storms scale runs from 0 to 5 and describes the effects a coronal mass ejection can have on the Earth. In addition to the visual effects of stronger, more intense auroras extending away from the polar regions, these storms can cause brownouts and blackouts on the electrical system due to changes in voltage. Spacecraft could experience increased surface charges and communication issues, including radio interruptions.

There is a chance of auroras appearing across the U.S. Be on the lookout for aurora more overhead, even visible to the naked eye, anywhere north of 45° latitude. Below that, "look to the northern horizon for a green color to the sky" is more appropriate advice. From Southern California to Florida, you're unlikely to see anything, but if there is something visible, your camera would be the one to catch it best!

These types of solar storms are expected to become more frequent this year as the Sun enters its solar maximum. It occurs every 11 years and is associated with increased solar flares, sunspots, and coronal mass ejections.