Chance of storms on Friday

kdemo posted a pic said Thu, Sep 7th 2017 at 4:12pm ET

Polar geomagnetic storms, that is. (Sorry, Irma)

Heads up Northerners -

Early Wednesday (Sept. 6, 2017), the sun released what appears to be the largest solar flare of the last decade. The explosion was big enough to swallow our entire planet with room to spare.

This is a decade-class flare. A list of the most powerful solar flares recorded since 1976 ranks the Sept 6th flare at #14, tied with a similar explosion in 1990.

The super exciting part:

“If the coming storm reaches its full potential, auroras could descend into the continental USA with sightings in northern-tier states from Maine to Washington.”
“NOAA’s space weather site predicts a potential aurora visible as far south as Seattle and Chicago over the weekend as a result of the storm.”

It is not expected to interfere with telecommunications or power grids.
Or it is, depending on what you read.

13 comments, 15 replies
Comment

moondrake said Thu, Sep 7th 2017 at 4:17pm ET:

Man, seeing the aurora borealis is on my bucket list, I’d hoped to see it on our cruise to Alaska but we didn’t go far enough north. I live way too far south to see it at home. So jealous!

5
- Reply
- Whisper
- @moondrake - It’s on my list, too. I always manage to miss them. Makes me crazy to see photos of an aurora in my area the next day.
  
  I did just sign up for space weather alerts, but I don’t suppose that will help you if you’re too far south. I have seen reports of sightings as far south as Arizona before, however.
  
  kdemo said Thu, Sep 7th 2017 at 4:35pm ET
  - 5
  - Reply
  - Whisper
- @KDemo I am south of AZ, unfortunately. However I’d be glad to drive to AZ or maybe CO for it if I had a day’s notice.
  
  moondrake said Thu, Sep 7th 2017 at 6:48pm ET
  - 3
  - Reply
  - Whisper
kdemo said Thu, Sep 7th 2017 at 4:18pm ET:

6
- Reply
- Whisper
kdemo said Thu, Sep 7th 2017 at 4:23pm ET:

It is possible to see the sun spots using those eclipse glasses you thought were worthless. (@dave )

https://www.space.com/38069-see-sunspot-that-made-monster-solar-flare.html

4
- Reply
- Whisper
- @KDemo Nope. Too smoky.
  
  walarney said Fri, Sep 8th 2017 at 9:22am ET
  - 1
  - Reply
  - Whisper
kdemo said Thu, Sep 7th 2017 at 4:45pm ET:

FML

3
- Reply
- Whisper
daveinwarsh said Thu, Sep 7th 2017 at 5:35pm ET:

Probably should wear a tin foil hat on Friday, just in case…

7
- Reply
- Whisper
- @daveinwarsh - Wouldn’t that attract the energy causing it to hit you directly?
  
  Guess that could also be a good light show. Carry on.
  
  kdemo said Thu, Sep 7th 2017 at 5:55pm ET
  - 5
  - Reply
  - Whisper
- I don’t know, that looks like Big Trouble to me!
  
  Love the expression on that cat. I’m thinking he’s been through something like this before?
  
  aetris said Fri, Sep 8th 2017 at 11:54am ET
  - 4
  - Reply
  - Whisper
kdemo said Thu, Sep 7th 2017 at 7:48pm ET:

Just received my first alert:

GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING: A CME has just hit Earth’s magnetic field (Sept. 7th at ~2300 UT). This is the debris from Wednesday’s decade-class X9 solar flare. It arrived earlier than expected, confirming that the solar storm cloud is both fast and potent. The CME appears to contain strong south-pointing magnetic fields that typically do a good job of igniting geomagnetic storms.

2
- Reply
- Whisper
kdemo said Thu, Sep 7th 2017 at 9:26pm ET:

Well, there’s an aurora live cam up in Churchill, Manitoba for those of us who can’t see the real thing. Small consolation.

https://explore.org/livecams/aurora-borealis-northern-lights/northern-lights-cam

2
- Reply
- Whisper
- The clouds are clearing on the cam now, and some green lights and stars are appearing.
  
  kdemo said Fri, Sep 8th 2017 at 2:58am ET
  - 1
  - Reply
  - Whisper
Kidsandliz said Thu, Sep 7th 2017 at 9:47pm ET:

I used to live and work in NW Ontario about a 2 week’s canoe paddle from James Bay. The aurora borealis light shows were amazing at times. Never did see lights there were other than green shades. Love to see them when other colors show up. Also saw them twice from an airplane. Too bad I am way too far south to see them now. Those who can see them - it is worth it driving out of city lights to watch.

We once (where I worked) had an all night paddle (with teens) up part of Lake Nipigon (sp?) in Canada and had a fantastic light show all night. Spectacular.

2
- Reply
- Whisper
DVDBZN said Fri, Sep 8th 2017 at 1:16am ET:

Too bad that all of Washington (and all of the Pacific Northwest) is covered in smoke as of late.

5
- Reply
- Whisper
kdemo said Fri, Sep 8th 2017 at 3:51am ET:

Northern Lights in the USA as far south as Arkansas.

Space Weather News for Sept. 8, 2017
SEVERE GEOMAGNETIC STORM: The debris from this week’s monster X9-class solar flare hit Earth’s magnetic field last night. The result: Northern Lights in the USA as far south as Arkansas. A severe (G4-class) geomagnetic storm on Sept. 8th sparked auroras so bright that, in parts of Scandinavia, traffic stopped as drivers pulled over to absorb the display. More storms are in the offing tonight and tomorrow as Earth moves through the wake of this potent CME.

2
- Reply
- Whisper
- @KDemo I guess I should have gone out and looked. Is Arkansas south of me? I should look that up too. (Edit- yes, Arkansas is south of me.)
  
  sammydog01 said Fri, Sep 8th 2017 at 11:30pm ET
  - 2
  - Reply
  - Whisper
- @sammydog01
  9/8 Dayton VA
  
  kdemo said Sat, Sep 9th 2017 at 4:10am ET
  - 1
  - Reply
  - Whisper
- 9/8 Mt Airy MD
  
  kdemo said Sat, Sep 9th 2017 at 4:12am ET
  - 1
  - Reply
  - Whisper
- 9/8 Richmond, VT
  
  kdemo said Sat, Sep 9th 2017 at 4:16am ET
  - 1
  - Reply
  - Whisper
- Image gallery.
  
  kdemo said Sat, Sep 9th 2017 at 4:19am ET
  - 1
  - Reply
  - Whisper
moondrake said Fri, Sep 8th 2017 at 9:57am ET:

I have a beast of a headache today, started at 11 last night. I was blaming it on the exercise program I started on Wednesday but I wonder if it’s related to this? Huh. I just googled it and it seems there is a relationship between solar flares and migraines. Wow, it can also have a big effect on clinical depression. Grab hold of something sturdy and weather it out compadres.

2
- Reply
- Whisper
- @moondrake - That’s interesting, not really that surprising when you think about it.
  The geomagnetic storm seems to be subsiding, hope your headache does too.
  
  I guess @daveinwarsh’s tinfoil hat makes more sense than I thought?
  
  kdemo said Fri, Sep 8th 2017 at 11:28pm ET
  - 3
  - Reply
  - Whisper
- @KDemo It’s down to a manageable level despite a stressful afternoon, thank goodness. Thanks.
  
  moondrake said Sat, Sep 9th 2017 at 1:57am ET
  - 2
  - Reply
  - Whisper
sammydog01 said Fri, Sep 8th 2017 at 11:33pm ET:

The cloud chamber at the Science Museum was going nuts today. I’m trying to find out if it was from the solar flare. I think probably. Anyone know?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_chamber

3
- Reply
- Whisper
- @sammydog01 - Seems likely it could be related?
  Don’t know, but please report back if you find out?
  
  kdemo said Sat, Sep 9th 2017 at 4:34am ET
  - 1
  - Reply
  - Whisper
kdemo said Sun, Sep 10th 2017 at 5:23pm ET:

But wait! There’s more!

Space Weather News for Sept. 10, 2017

ANOTHER X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE: Departing sunspot AR2673 erupted again on Sept.10th (1606 UT), producing a major X8-class solar flare. A moderately strong solar radiation storm is underway as protons accelerated by the blast swarm around our planet. Shortwave radio blackouts over the Americas and around Earth’s poles have also been observed in the aftermath of the explosion. Visit Spaceweather.com for updates and more information.

1
- Reply
- Whisper
- Aurora forecast not as great for tonight - hopefully tomorrow?
  
  kdemo said Sun, Sep 10th 2017 at 5:38pm ET
  - 1
  - Reply
  - Whisper