GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING: Moderate (G2) to strong (G3) geomagnetic storms are possible on Feb. 27th and 28th when another CME could strike Earth's magnetic field--the second in as many days. The first CME, which arrived during the late hours of Feb. 26th, has already sparked multiple episodes of strong storming with widespread auroras in northern Europe and North America. A double blow could intensify the storm even more. Stay tuned. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.
AURORAS IN THE USA: Earth's magnetic field is reverberating from the impact of a CME on Feb. 26th. Its arrival brought a gust of solar wind blowing faster than 800 km/s (the highest value in years), and triggered a strong G3-class geomagnetic storm. Rocky Raybell photographed the light show from Keller, Washington:
"The auroras appeared at 7:15 pm PST," says Raybell. "They were so bright, I was able to capture the red colors with only a 3-second exposure (ISO 3200)."
The lights spread across multiple US states including Oregon, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Idaho, Montana, New Jersey and North Dakota. At maximum, the lights descended as far south as Colorado.
"Here are two of my good friends and co-workers witnessing their first ever auroras--in OHIO, of all places!" reports Marybeth Kiczenski, who photographed the display from the edge of Lake Erie:
"What a special night!" says Kiczenski. "We were able to see the auroras naked eye, even through the moonlight and light pollution!"
Europe experienced a good display, too. "It was aurora madness!" says Ruslan Merzlyakov of Nykøbing Mors, Denmark. "Auroras blew up the sky!" reports Conor McDonald of Doire, Ireland. "And here in Germany it was a mega-event," adds Heiko Ulbricht of Herzogswalde, Saxony.
Don't miss the next storm. Subscribers to our Space Weather Alert Service receive instant text messages when CMEs arrive and geomagnetic storms are underway.
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