Space weather forecasters say a powerful coronal mass ejection could produce vivid auroras across much of the United States, visible as far south as Alabama and northern California if skies are clear. The CME, hurled toward Earth around 5 a.m. EST, may arrive by midday Wednesday and could trigger a severe G4 geomagnetic storm. Officials warn of possible impacts to power grids, satellite operations, radio communications and GPS. The flare is classed X5.1 — the strongest since Oct. 3, 2024 — and occurs during the current solar maximum.
Powerful Solar Storm Could Produce Widespread Auroras in U.S. — and Disrupt Communications
Space weather forecasters say a powerful coronal mass ejection could produce vivid auroras across much of the United States, visible as far south as Alabama and northern California if skies are clear. The CME, hurled toward Earth around 5 a.m. EST, may arrive by midday Wednesday and could trigger a severe G4 geomagnetic storm. Officials warn of possible impacts to power grids, satellite operations, radio communications and GPS. The flare is classed X5.1 — the strongest since Oct. 3, 2024 — and occurs during the current solar maximum.
01:10 AM, 11/13/2025Science
Much of the U.S. could again witness brilliantly colored auroras on Tuesday and Wednesday nights after the sun unleashed its strongest solar flare so far this year.
Skywatchers may see the northern lights as far south as Alabama and northern California — considerably farther than usual — provided skies are clear and observers avoid light pollution.
The display is caused by a burst of plasma and radiation, a coronal mass ejection (CME), striking Earth’s magnetic field.
“Veteran's Day fireworks!” NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center wrote on social media.
Forecasters said the flare was hurled toward Earth at about 5 a.m. EST, with related effects expected by midday Wednesday.
The best viewing window is roughly between midnight and 2 a.m. local time from a north-facing spot with a clear horizon.
However, alongside the expected green and pink displays, the event could spark a severe geomagnetic storm that may cause “detrimental impacts to some of our critical infrastructure technology.”
“Watches at this level are very rare; still, this is the fourth G4 Watch issued so far this solar cycle,” SWPC forecasters said.
Scientists noted this CME is one of several over the past few days, but it is the fastest and most energetic among them.
“As always with these events, the intensity of the [flare] will not be known with better certainty until it arrives 1 million miles from Earth and is observed by the solar wind observatories at that location,” the center said. “It is at that point that any needed Warning decisions can be made by SWPC forecasters.”
The blast already caused radio blackouts across parts of Africa and Europe, according to Space.com.
Other possible impacts include damage to power grids, increased atmospheric drag on low-Earth-orbit satellites and difficulties tracking them, plus interruptions to GPS satellite navigation.
The storms coincide with the sun’s most active phase in its 11-year cycle — the solar maximum — which is expected to persist at least through the end of the year.
The latest huge flare has been classified as X5.1, the strongest since the Oct. 3, 2024 event that produced global auroras.