Summary
A severe geomagnetic storm made the northern lights visible in Iowa and could allow them to be seen even further south. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a G4 storm watch due to solar activity, specifically coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun.
Key Facts
- The northern lights were seen in Iowa due to a strong geomagnetic storm.
- NOAA issued a G4 storm watch, indicating a severe level.
- This storm may allow the northern lights to be seen as far south as Alabama and Northern California.
- Geomagnetic storms can disrupt communications infrastructure.
- Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are large bursts of solar energy that can cause these storms.
- The highest level of geomagnetic storm is G5, which is called extreme.
- A timelapse video captured the northern lights over Iowa during the storm.
