Strongest solar storm of the season continues

A blast of solar wind traveling about 400 miles per second slammed into Earth’s outer atmosphere and triggered auroras late Sunday. And, it doesn’t look like the show is over. 

The solar storm reached moderate intensity (G2 level). The Space Weather Prediction Center is forecasting moderate intensity solar storms again tonight! G2-level solar storms can trigger auroras that are visible across the northern U.S., so places such as Michigan, the Dakotas, Minnesota, northern New England, the Pacific Northwest should see aurora activity. 

Photo Credit Amos Weibe from Grand Prarie, Alberta December of 2015

This activity is being caused by much-stronger-than-normal solar winds as opposed to solar flare activity. The solar winds are produced by a "coronal hole" on the surface of the sun that was facing Earth in recent days. Minor solar storm levels (G1) are predicted by the SWPC Tuesday night as well.

It is not terribly unusual for G2-level solar storms to occur, but we haven’t seen one in a while. If it were to reach G3 or G4, it would be notable as we usually see those one or twice a year if that! A G4-level storm could produce auroras that are easily visible as far south as Virginia, Kentucky, Kansas and Northern California. However, those solar storms of that magnitude are usually triggered by a solar flare, and this current event was not. 

Here is a great link to follow the latest Aurora information. 

This is a near realtime aurora model from the SWPC that uses an easy-to-read color scheme. Here is an example of what it looks like. 

Near realtime aurora prediction from SWPC. See the latest image here.

Watch the show online if you are unable to see the aurora from your location. Here is a list of aurora webcams across the Globe.

If you have a DSLR camera, try pointing it north and take a long exposure picture, 15-30 seconds. Many times, the camera will pick up on auroras that are not visible to the naked eye. Happy aurora hunting. Just look up; you never know what you will see.