Extreme Solar Storm Brings Spectacular Northern Lights

By Jintak Han - May 11, 2024

Updated 7:03 pm on May 10, 2024

A dramatic blast from the sun set off a geomagnetic storm on Earth, producing colorful light shows at unusual latitudes. The solar storm was so powerful that it caused the aurora borealis, or northern lights, to be visible as far south as Texas and Florida.

The solar storm was caused by a coronal mass ejection (CME), which is a large burst of plasma and magnetic field that is ejected from the sun's corona. The CME traveled towards Earth at speeds of up to 1,000 kilometers per second, and it arrived on May 10th, 2024.

When the CME hit Earth's magnetic field, it caused a geomagnetic storm. Geomagnetic storms can disrupt power grids, communications systems, and GPS navigation. However, the storm that hit Earth on May 10th was not strong enough to cause any major damage.

Instead, the storm produced a spectacular light show in the sky. The aurora borealis was visible as far south as Texas and Florida, and it was even visible during the day in some areas.

The solar storms of May 2024 are an ongoing series of solar storms that began on May 9th. The storms are expected to continue for several more days, and they could produce additional auroral displays.