Geomagnetic Storm

Geomagnetic Storm

 A polar geomagnetic storm (Kp=5) is in progress on Dec. 8th as a high-speed solar wind stream buffets Earth's magnetic field. When Earth first entered the solar wind stream during the late hours of Dec. 7th, Northern Lights spilled over the Canadian border into several US states. Christopher Griffith sends this snapshot from Pillager, Minnesota:

 

"The auroras were dancing lightly across the sky," says Griffith. "It was quite fantastic and fun to watch despite the temperature being -25 F [ -32 C ]."

NOAA forecasters estimate a 35% chance of additional geomagnetic storms on Dec. 8th and 9th. High-latitude sky watchers should remain alert for auroras as the solar wind continues to blow.