A powerful blast from the sun has set off a geomagnetic storm in Earth’s atmosphere, causing excitement for sky gazers and concern for technology users. The storm, which was triggered on Friday, is expected to make the northern lights visible as far south as Alabama and Northern California.
The effects of the storm are not limited to beautiful light displays in the sky, as it could also interfere with power grids, communications, and navigation systems. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a storm watch on Thursday for the first time in 19 years, which was upgraded to a warning on Friday.
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center operations chief Mike Bettwy has stated that the solar activity is expected to be more significant than what has been seen so far. The agency observed outbursts on the sun’s surface on Wednesday, with at least five of them heading towards Earth.
The emissions from the sun bombarding the planet’s magnetic field could have effects that continue through the weekend. The geomagnetic storm is expected to be closely monitored as it may impact various systems on Earth.
As sky watchers eagerly await the possibility of witnessing the northern lights farther south than usual, technology users will need to stay vigilant for potential disruptions caused by the storm. Stay tuned for updates on the ongoing effects of the geomagnetic storm.
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