PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — A geomagnetic storm could bring the Northern Lights to the Pacific Northwest late on Tuesday and early Wednesday, but clouds could put a damper on the show.
WEATHER | Latest Storm Tracker 2 Forecast
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Page says a G4 (Severe) Watch is in effect for November 12.
“A coronal mass ejection (CME) is an eruption of solar material and magnetic fields. When they arrive at Earth, a geomagnetic storm can result,” NOAA/NWS Space Weather Prediction Center (NWSSWPC) said on its website.
Officials say the CME is expected to arrive at and partially impact Earth around mid-day on November 12. “The potential for elevated geomagnetic response and dependent upon the orientation of the embedded magnetic field, potential exists for Severe Storm levels,” NWSSPWC said.
SPWC has issued a G4 storm watch for a CME that sould arrive on Wednesday Nvember 11 – SPWC image{ }
The geomagnetic response is likely to create an increased viewing area of the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights.
“The intensity of the CME will not be known with better certainty until it arrives 1 million miles from Earth and is observed by the solar wind observatories at that location,” NWSSPWC said. “It is at that point that any needed Warning decisions can be made by SWPC forecasters”
A few forecasts have the Northern Lights visible down to northern California. However, the forecast doesn’t look great for seeing them on the west side of the Cascades as clouds are slowing moving south to north, but there is a chance.
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