This image of the Northern lights is courtesy of NASA.
A strong filament eruption of the sun occurred on Aug. 31, 2012 and will provide a spectacular northern light display beginning at about 2 a.m. EDT Sunday.
"The filament eruption was very strong, very significant," said Hunter Outten. Outten is an astronomy buff who blogs about astronomy.
On the surface of the sun, large regions of very dense, cool gas is held in place by magnetic fields. These are the filaments. The filaments sometimes collapse and hit the stellar surface below the sun's chromosphere, according to NASA. When this happens, a filament eruption can take place.
This eruption will not make a direct hit on the Earth. However, effects from the eruption may impact Earth, Mars and Earth orbiting satellites.
"It's possible some of the Geo stationary satellites could be affected by the eruption, " said Outten.
Interruptions to satellites that provide satellite television and cellular phone service are possible.
The trade off will be the chance to view the northern lights.
"People in New York, Minnesota and the Dakotas have a chance to see the lights," said Outten.
The weather will cooperate for many of the possible viewing sites.
"At the time of the northern lights, all of New York State will be mostly clear," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Edwards.
"The eastern half of Minnesota will be clear with better viewing conditions to the south."
"In North and South Dakota there will be increasing clouds that may interfere with viewing," Edwards said.
If you are able, stay up late and look for the northern light show Sunday.
In this time-lapse video from NASA, the solar filament eruption that occurred on August 31, 2012 is visible in a film made by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.
NOAA released its 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast Thursday, predicting another active season.
This holiday weekend, a rare astronomical phenomenon will occur that will not be seen again until October 2015.
San Antonio is getting hit by heavy thunderstorms on Friday afternoon and evening.
A few days after a chilly storm departs the Northeast, warm weather will make a strong comeback in parts of the Midwest and the East later next week.
Severe weather and drenching downpours will affect parts of the Plains and Midwest over the Memorial Day Weekend.
"This pup was literally singing when he saw his family," Michelle Karolicki, relocation program manager of the Central Oklahoma Humane Society, said about a reunion that took place on Thursday.
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | N/A | |
| Low | N/A | |
| Precip | N/A |
Newton, NJ (1925)
96 degrees on the 23rd; 39 degrees on the morning
of the 24th.
North Texas (1986)
Severe thunderstorms produced 95 mph wind
gusts and widespread damage. More than 3" of
rain fell in less than an hour. A 29 year old
women and 6 year old daughter drowned when the
underpass they were driving into was flooded
out.
Philadelphia, PA (1992)
A dramatic cold frontal passage. Early afternoon
temperature over 80 degrees fell to a late-day
reading in the 40s.
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