BALTIMORE, MD—The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center has issued its first Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch since 2005, and the Northern Lights may be visible in parts of the Mid-Atlantic this weekend.

At least five earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed and expected to arrive as early as midday on Friday, May 10, 2024, and persist through Sunday, May 12, 2024.

Several strong flares have been observed over the past few days and were associated with a large and magnetically complex sunspot cluster, which is 16 times the diameter of Earth.

CMEs are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. They cause geomagnetic storms when they are directed at Earth. Geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface, potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio, and satellite operations. SWPC has notified the operators of these systems so they can take protective action.

Geomagnetic storms can also trigger spectacular displays of aurora on Earth. A severe geomagnetic storm includes the potential for aurora to be seen as far south as Alabama and Northern California.

While the Northern Lights may be visible in Maryland this weekend, the weather may not necessarily cooperate.  The weekend is expected to be mostly cloudy with scattered showers and storms throughout the region.  If there are some breaks in the clouds, be prepared to look up!

More in the graphic below from SWPC.

The Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) has issued the first G4 (Severe) geomagnetic watch since 2005. The aurora tonight/tomorrow morning may become visible over much of the northern half of the country, and maybe as far south as Alabama to northern California.
Story:… pic.twitter.com/bqgd9qqnNI

— National Weather Service (@NWS) May 10, 2024

Photo via Pixabay