“Bright Lights, Big Storm: Solar Flare Headed to Earth Amidst Hurricane Chaos”

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a severe geomagnetic storm watch for Thursday into Friday as a result of an outburst from the sun detected earlier this week. This severe solar storm is expected to impact Earth and could potentially disrupt power grids and radio signals.

NOAA has taken precautionary measures by notifying operators of power plants and orbiting spacecraft to prepare for possible disruptions. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has also been alerted about the potential power disruptions as they continue to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and prepare for Hurricane Milton approaching the Gulf of Mexico.

While forecasters do not anticipate this solar storm to surpass the one that hit Earth in May, which was the strongest in over two decades, they will not have a definitive assessment until the storm is just 1 million miles away from Earth where spacecraft can measure its intensity.

Florida, being located further south, is less likely to experience significant power disruptions from the solar storm unless it intensifies significantly, according to NOAA scientist Rob Steenburgh. However, experts are more concerned about the potential impact on power grids in areas already affected by Hurricane Helene.

The solar storm may also lead to the appearance of northern lights in regions as far south as the lower Midwest and Northern California. While the exact locations and times are uncertain, skygazers are advised to point their smartphones upward to capture photos of the auroras, as smartphones can often capture auroras that are not visible to the human eye.

The solar storm in May resulted in stunning auroras across the Northern Hemisphere but did not cause any major disruptions. The current solar activity is attributed to the sun nearing the peak of its 11-year cycle. Scientists and experts continue to monitor the situation closely to assess the potential impact of the upcoming solar storm on Earth’s systems.