Geomagnetic Storm Warning - 14-16 December - Aurora

[astral]

Geomagnetic Storm Warning - 14-16 December 2006 - Aurora

 

Just received and forwarded for information (see below). There is a strong

likelihood of auroral activity from late on 14th December until 16th. At worst

this may result in disruption of radiocommunications (satellite and

terrestrial), induced power surges along long electricity supply lines in

northern latitudes, and visible auroras.

 

Announcement Starts ...

 

BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY: NATIONAL GEOMAGNETIC SERVICE - GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING

 

Following recent observations of solar/solar-wind disturbance(s) there is an

increased risk of a geomagnetic storm from

14-DEC-2006 to 16-DEC-2006

 

 

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS - Major solar activity (an X class solar flare and

associated Earth directed coronal mass ejection) occurred yesterday, peaking at

about 02:40GMT.

 

A strong geomagnetic storm is now anticipated to begin later today or tomorrow.

Auroral sightings will of course depend on clear skies.

 

 

Announcement Ends

 

More information on geomagnetic hazards is available on the British Geological

Survey (www.bgs.ac.uk) and probably USGS/NASA/NOAA websites etc.

 

 

"Keep watching the skies"

 

AC

[kolaczan]

I saw this and started drooling. But then I thought, wait a minute, I'm stuck here in the maritimes. Probably won't see more than a faint glow.

 

Oh how I miss the north.

[astral]

I've just been told the storm started at 14:30UTC though it will be a while before we know if it turns into an interesting event or fizzles out. These events are pretty rare and the effects are not yet predictable with any certainty: the last major event was apparently in 1993.

 

Fingers crossed. AC

[luminous world]

A coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth today at approximately 1400 UT, and the impact may cause strong geomagnetic storms.

The CME was hurled toward Earth on Dec. 13th

 

The Planetary Kindex has reached a level of 7.

This means that a strong geomagnetic storm is in progress.

Sky watchers should be alert for auroras.

 

aurora's may be visible tonight in North America perhaps as far south as the middle US and in Europe as far south as northern Europe. The aurora should be visible also from Tasmania and South New Zealand.

[bobatkins]

I beleive that a few years ago there was an auroral display that was quite visible in the New York City area and was even seen as far south as Miami.

 

The current map (http://sec.noaa.gov/pmap/pmapN.html) predicts a really good show in Greenland, Iceland, Northern Canada and Northern Russia. An OK display in Alaska and possible visibility into the mid latitudes of the US.

 

I'm stuck in NJ, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed! At least it's supposed to be mostly clear tonight.

[luminous world]

kindex has hit 8, aurora activity is predicted to be visible in many parts of the lower 48

[astral]

The time-frame has been extended 24 hours (17 December). Nothing visible in Central England (52North) on 14/15 December up to 4am. Maybe 15/16 will show something. Anyway, there are a few meteors around.

 

AC

[phyrpowr]

You're just doing this to tease us Southerners

[astral]

Hey Jack, I must say a photo of the aurora over classic AZ, UT, NM or CA scenes (etc) would be pretty amazing. Though there are some super recent shots (14 Dec) on spaceweather dot com taken in Kansas, etc. But most good shots have been north of c. 50 degrees - and the stunners are from Iceland, Finland, etc. If it was a predictable phenomena it'd be worth a trip up north. Ho hum. (Low cloud & rain in the UK - darn it). AC

[phyrpowr]

Alsn

 

I agree about CO, NM, etc. Here in North Carolina the foreground is trees