NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) said another strong X-ray flare happened on Saturday originating near the sunspot regions known as 3872 and 3873.
It marks the second X-class flare since Thursday when an X3.3 flare happened from another region of the Sun.
On Sunday, the SWPC issued a Geomagnetic Storm Watch after satellites detected coronal mass ejection particles heading toward Earth.
When these particles interact with Earth’s magnetic field, we can see displays of Northern Lights, known as the Aurora Borealis.
Still, if weather conditions permit, those from the Northeast to the Pacific Northwest could see beautiful displays of the Northern Lights.
Following a powerful solar flare that sent charged particles hurtling from the Sun toward Earth, people in the northern tier may be treated to a sighting of the Northern Lights on Sunday and Monday evenings.
Another powerful X-ray flare occurred on Saturday, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), and it originated close to the sunspot regions 3872 and 3873. Since Thursday, when an X3.3 flare occurred from a different area of the Sun, this is the second X-class flare. Following the detection of coronal mass ejection particles traveling toward Earth by satellites on Sunday, the SWPC issued a Geomagnetic Storm Watch.
Solar storms are rated by the SWPC on a five-level scale, where five represents the rarest and most severe space weather conditions. Monday could see moderate, level 2 out of 5 geomagnetic storming.
SEE MORE: WORLDWIDE JAW-DROPPING AURORAS ARE CAUSED BY EXTREME GEOMAGNETIC STORMS.
Coronal mass ejections are solar phenomena that cause charged particles to be sent toward Earth when the Sun flares. Displays of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, are produced when these particles interact with the Earth’s magnetic field.
A severe storm earlier this month produced displays of the Northern Lights as far south as the mid-Atlantic, but moderate geomagnetic storming is probably not going to produce anything like that. The Northern Lights could still be seen in stunning displays by people from the Northeast to the Pacific Northwest if the weather permits.
