An unusually strong solar storm hitting Earth could produce northern lights in the U.S. this weekend

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning when a solar outburst reached Earth on Friday afternoon, hours sooner than anticipated. The effects were due to last through the weekend and possibly into next week.
NOAA alerted operators of power plants and spacecraft in orbit to take precautions, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Strong solar storm hits Earth, could disrupt communications and produce northern lights in US

 

The K7RA Solar Update

05/10/2024 "ASWFC GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WARNING ISSUED AT 2302 UTC/09 MAY 2024 BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE.

"Four halo CMEs first observed over 08-09 May are expected to arrive
at Earth on 10-May, starting at 1000 UTC +/- 10 hours. G4
geomagnetic conditions are expected on 10-May, reducing to G3 with a
chance of G4 on 11-May.

"INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED DUE TO CORONAL MASS EJECTION FROM 10-12 MAY 2024.

 

The Northern Lights are visible all the way down to the Gulf Coast and the Bahamas, and will be visible again tonight. Here in NW Alabama the skies were dusty rose-colored last night. This solar storm has a potential to play merry hell with anything electrical...it's a CME after all, but I got a plan for that!

 

Playing havoc with amateur radio...

 

I moved all of my solar panels into the shop trailer which is aluminum sheeted all around.

 

I disconnected all my VHF/UHF and HF antennas...thinking I might even put the radios in a faraday cage.

 

I can't stream Battlestar Galactica worth a damn.

Priorities

 

Not a normal occurrence in SE La.