Solar storms could cause faint northern lights at night in parts of the northern hemisphere

NEW YORK (AP) — Solar storms may cause fainting but Northern Lights visible towards the northern hemisphere from Thursday evening until early Friday morning.

But experts say power grids and communications are not expected to be disrupted too much.

Residents of Canada and northern U.S. states such as Alaska, Washington, Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota may see faint colors, according to current data. space weather forecast.

If moderate solar storms become more intense as night approaches, residents in southern Illinois and New York may be able to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon.

“All the stars have to align” for that to happen, said Erica Grow Cei, a spokeswoman for the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

To observe the spectacle, wait until the sky darkens. Then, go outside, ideally away from bright city lights. Taking a photo with a smartphone camera can also reveal traces of the aurora that are not visible to the naked eye.

The Sun’s magnetic field is at the peak of its 11-year cycle, making storms and northern lights more frequent. Unusually strong solar storms in May produced vibrant northern lights across the Northern Hemisphere.

Tonight’s storms are expected to be less intense, but could cause brief disruptions to the precision GPS machines that farmers use to harvest their crops, Grow Cei said.

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