A powerful geomagnetic storm is expected to illuminate the skies with the northern lights, possibly visible across much of the continental United States. According to an alert from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the auroras could stretch as far south as Alabama and as far west as California.
On Tuesday night, the sun unleashed a solar flare, which triggered a coronal mass ejection (CME), a massive release of plasma and magnetic energy into space.
NOAA forecasts that the CME could impact Earth as early as this morning or by midday. This particular CME is classified as “severe,” rating a four out of five on the agency’s geomagnetic storm scale.
While much of the United States, as well as most of Canada, is expected to witness a spectacular celestial display, the storm also poses certain hazards.
NOAA cautions that “detrimental impacts to some of our critical infrastructure technology are possible.”
New York City’s Office of Emergency Management echoed these concerns, noting that the storm could cause disruptions closer to home as well.

While the office considers it “unlikely,” they advised that satellites might experience “increased inconsistencies” and warned of the potential for “more and longer periods in reduction of GPS.”
Additionally, there is a chance of “possible increased and more frequent voltage control problems,” with power outages deemed “unlikely but possible.”
Although the forecast is subject to adjustments, NOAA’s latest projections show the aurora viewing line extending down to the northern regions of Kansas.
In the northeastern U.S., the line cuts through parts of Long Island, northern New Jersey, and much of Pennsylvania, north of the Philadelphia area.
According to Friday’s forecast, the northern lights may still be visible in the northern reaches of upstate New York and in states further west, such as Washington.
To get the best view of the auroras, it’s recommended to venture out of urban areas where light pollution could obscure the spectacle.
{Matzav.com}