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Solar flare event could trigger vibrant aurora display later this week
FOX Weather • • science
Key Points:
- A powerful M6.9 solar flare erupted from the sun on Tuesday morning, accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME) expected to reach Earth later this week.
- The CME may trigger a minor geomagnetic storm, potentially resulting in vibrant Northern Lights visible to some locations in North America by Friday.
- The exact timing and impact of the CME depend on when its magnetic field interacts with Earth's magnetic environment, with early models predicting a glancing blow around 6 to 7 a.m. EDT on Friday.
- Solar flares like this can disrupt radio communications, power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.
- If the CME coincides with a high-speed solar wind stream, geomagnetic activity and aurora visibility could be further enhanced.
