California could get a rare glimpse of the northern lights this week, thanks to a recent series of solar flares.
[–>
Three eruptions occurred on the surface of the Sun on Monday and Tuesday that “sent solar material out into space,” said Shawn Dahl, a service coordinator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
[–>
Some of these coronal mass ejections, also known as CMEs, could be visible in the skies above California late Wednesday night and early Thursday in the form of a stunning light display, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center.
[–>
More CMEs will pass through the area on Friday, Dahl said.
[–>
How are solar storms measured?
[–>
NOAA has a space weather scale that helps classify geomagnetic storms.
[–>
That scale starts at G1, indicating a minor storm, and ends at G5, indicating an extreme storm.
[–>
Wednesday evening’s storm was classified as G1.
[–>
Friday’s solar storm could be classified as level G3, or, strong, Dahl said.
[–>
What causes the northern lights?
[–>
Auroras are caused by “eruptions from the Sun, that then impact the Earth a couple days later,” Bill Murtagh, program coordinator at the Space Weather Prediction Center, told The Sacramento Bee in March.
[–>
“These energetic particles come flowing in to the high latitudes and interact with the Earth’s atmosphere,” Murtagh said. “That interaction ends up triggering the aurora.”
[–>
The northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, can normally only be seen near the North Pole.
[–>
In Alaska, the so-called “aurora season” runs from late August and late April, peaking in March, according to Travel + Leisure magazine.
[–>
In the southern hemisphere, the atmospheric phenomenon is known as the southern lights, or, aurora australis. It usually visible May through August.
[–>
Can I see aurora borealis in California?
[–>
If this week’s solar storm reaches a G3 level, it’s possible that those living in Northern California could spot the aurora borealis.
[–>
The best times to catch the solar light show will be Thursday evening into early Friday morning, Dahl said.
[–>
Can solar flares cause a radio blackout?
[–>
Solar flares can cause radio blackouts due to geomagnetic activity, but they typically only affect high-frequency radio, according to Dahl.
[–>
He said a 30-minute radio blackout occurred on Tuesday as a result of the solar eruptions.
[–>
“There are some potential minor influences to some of our technologies, but nothing that can’t be controlled and handled,” Dahl said. “Nobody needs to be concerned about these activities.”
[–>
What’s the best way to watch the northern lights?
[–>
Below are tips to get the best visibility for the northern lights, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center:
[–>
- Go to a dark outdoor place away from city lights.
- Timing is important. The best time to catch a glimpse of the aurora is usually within an hour or two of midnight.
[–>
This story was first published November 29, 2023, 1:47 p.m.