A rare geomagnetic storm may bring northern lights to parts of Texas. See where
A rare, severe geomagnetic storm is expected to trigger auroras, potentially making them visible to the naked eye in the northernmost areas of the state. Those farther south may still catch a glimpse using their cameras or phones. According to federal forecasters at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, past solar events of this strength have produced auroras visible as far south as the Gulf Coast.
This weekend's geomagnetic storm is at G4, or severe, and is one of few storms of such magnitude since last year, when Texans got to see the spectacle as far as South Texas. The May 2024 event was the first geomagnetic storm to reach G4 magnitude since 2005.
Visibility may be limited tonight for Texans, but the aurora forecast shows potential sightings as far south as the Austin-San Antonio area, and even Houston.
More: Saharan dust to hit Texas just as storms clear. When to expect hazy skies in your area
The auroras are a natural light display in Earth's sky that are famously best seen in high-latitude regions of the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
The phenomenon is caused when electrically charged particles from space enter Earth's atmosphere and collide with molecules and gases like oxygen and nitrogen, causing the atmospheric particles to gain energy. To return to their normal state, the particles release that energy in the form of light, according to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks Geophysical Institute website, which tracks the phenomenon.
As auroras form, Earth's magnetic field redirects the particles toward the poles through a process that produces a stunning display of rays, spirals and flickers that have fascinated humans for millennia. Whether hues of green, red, blue and even pink dance about in the sky depends on the altitude where the collisions occur, as well as the composition and density of the atmosphere at the time.
Active geomagnetic storm conditions may persist into early June 2, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. The ongoing disturbance is driven by a coronal mass ejection (CME) that struck Earth in the early hours of June 1, combined with high-speed solar wind flowing from coronal holes. Another CME is expected to arrive late on June 2, which could extend the storm's effects, followed by a much smaller one on June 3-4, according to Space.com.
The June 1 solar storm, traveling at approximately 1,938 km/s (about 4.3 million mph), was unusually complex — made up of material from multiple CMEs. As a result, its impact could continue for another 24 hours, Space.com reported.
"We just entered what looks to be the 'core' of the first structure," space weather physicist Tamitha Skov told Space.com. "Since this storm is made up of material from several CMEs compressed into one composite structure, there's a chance we'll see more than one 'core' signature. That means the show could continue to fade gradually over the next 24 hours."
While this may cause temporary disruptions to technology and electronic communications, no major impacts are expected — except for the dazzling display of the northern lights.
Fortunately, Earth is shielded by its magnetic field, an invisible barrier that protects us from solar winds, according to USA TODAY. When strong solar particles interact with gases in the atmosphere near the magnetic poles, they produce the vibrant colors of auroras.
This activity coincides with the sun's approach to the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, known as the solar maximum — a period marked by increased sunspots. These magnetized regions on the sun's surface occasionally release stored energy in the form of solar flares, which NASA calls the most powerful explosions in our solar system.
The heightened solar activity boosts the chances of witnessing celestial phenomena like the aurora borealis, which made appearances in the U.S. several times last year. However, it could also interfere with other skywatching events, such as meteor showers. Solar flares and wind can disrupt Earth's atmosphere, potentially obscuring meteor showers expected in 2025.
This weekend, residents in the northernmost parts of Texas — particularly those in the Panhandle north of Amarillo — may be able to see the Northern Lights with the naked eye. A broader area, stretching from El Paso to the Louisiana border and as far south as the Austin-San Antonio region, could still catch the display through a camera lens.
In especially strong geomagnetic events, the aurora can extend even farther south. According to USA TODAY, during a major event in 1958, the Northern Lights were visible as far south as Mexico City.
The best aurora is usually within an hour or two of midnight (between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. local time). These hours expand towards evening and morning as the level of geomagnetic activity increases.
"Go out at night," NOAA said. "And get away from city lights."
The agency also maintains an aurora dashboard that should help skygazers track the phenomenon. NOAA's 30-minute aurora forecast may be particularly useful for regular updates on viewing opportunities.
Fox4 meteorologist Dylan Federico shared his own tips for capturing the auroras with your phone camera.
"Use 10+ second exposure on your iPhone camera Sunday night for the best chance to see the auroras," he wrote on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Aurora Borealis forecast: Will northern lights be visible in Texas?
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