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    • A severe geomagnetic storm could impact the hurricane recovery response across the Southeast
    Washington

    A severe geomagnetic storm could impact the hurricane recovery response across the Southeast

    Madoc Meredith Posted on

    FOX Weather meteorologist Stephen Morgan explains the Northern Lights and how to see them.

    A persistent severe geomagnetic storm could hamper the recovery response from Hurricanes Milton and Helene across Florida and the Southeast, producing northern lights as far south as Alabama on Thursday evening.

    NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) issued a geomagnetic storm warning Thursday after severe geomagnetic storms were observed.

    The SWPC rates solar storms a five-point scalewith five being the most extreme and rare Space weather Conditions. The SWPC said extreme (G5) levels were possible.

    The solar storm is expected to last until Friday after impacts from a coronal mass ejection hit Earth on Thursday.

    The SWPC is in contact with FEMA and state agencies involved in disaster response efforts as these storms could impact ongoing work throughout the Southeast from Hurricanes Milton and Helene. Geomagnetic storms and solar radiation can affect the power grid, as can GPS and radio outages and impacts on satellites.

    “This storm could impact ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricanes Helene and Milton in several ways,” the SPWC said.

    • An employee picks up some of his belongings at a beauty salon that was destroyed by the violent tornado that struck Cocoa Beach, Florida, on October 10, 2024. A spate of deadly tornadoes occurred, killing at least four people, but the catastrophic devastation that officials had feared was avoided. (Photo by GIORGIO VIERA / AFP) (Photo by GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images)
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    • A woman collects debris from the destruction of the tornado track on October 10, 2024 in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Hurricane Milton ripped a coast-to-coast path of destruction across the US state of Florida, unleashing a spate of deadly tornadoes that killed at least four people but avoided the catastrophic devastation that officials had feared. (Photo by GIORGIO VIERA / AFP) (Photo by GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images)
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    • Storm damage in Treasure Island, Florida, to Milton.

      Storm damage in Treasure Island, Florida, to Milton.
      (@TresIslandFL / X)

    • A police vehicle blocks an intersection in the downtown business district where a traffic light pole fell after Hurricane Milton on October 10, 2024 in Orlando, Florida.

      A police vehicle blocks an intersection in the downtown business district where a traffic light pole fell after Hurricane Milton on October 10, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. The storm made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday evening as a Category 3 hurricane before moving across central Florida, causing massive destruction and leaving 3 million Floridians without power. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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    • Pile of sand in front of buildings after Hurricane Milton in St. Pete Beach, Florida, U.S., on Thursday, October 10, 2024. More than 3 million people are without power Thursday morning after Hurricane Milton made landfall and crossed the state. Photographer: Tristan Wheelock/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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    • On October 10, 2024, a construction crane crashed into a building in downtown St. Pete.

      On October 10, 2024, a construction crane crashed into a building in downtown St. Pete.
      (St. Petersburg Police)

    • A woman talks to a motorist on a road strewn with storm debris from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton following Hurricane Milton on October 10, 2024 in Venice, Florida. Hurricane Milton made landfall in the Siesta Key area as a Category 3 hurricane.

      A woman talks to a motorist on a road strewn with storm debris from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton following Hurricane Milton on October 10, 2024 in Venice, Florida. Hurricane Milton made landfall in the Siesta Key area as a Category 3 hurricane. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
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    • A drone image shows the dome of Tropicana Field ripped open by Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg, Florida, on October 10, 2024.

      A drone image shows the dome of Tropicana Field ripped open by Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg, Florida, on October 10, 2024.
      (BRYAN R SMITH/AFP)

    • A drone image shows a street flooded by Hurricane Milton in Siesta Key, Florida, on October 10, 2024. At least four people were confirmed to have been killed in two tornadoes triggered by Hurricane Milton on the east coast of the U.S. state of Florida, local authorities said on Thursday.

      A drone image shows a street flooded by Hurricane Milton in Siesta Key, Florida, on October 10, 2024. At least four people were confirmed to have been killed in two tornadoes triggered by Hurricane Milton on the east coast of the U.S. state of Florida, local authorities said on Thursday.
      (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP)

    The SWPC warned that disruption could occur to systems that rely on low-Earth satellites for high-frequency communications. Internet and cell service have been a problem in North Carolina following flooding from Hurricane Helene, and some have relied on SpaceX’s Starlink internet to stay connected.

    The geomagnetic storm could also place additional strain on power grids weakened by back-to-back hurricanes. More than 3 million people across Florida are without power after Hurricane Milton made landfall in Siesta Key on Wednesday evening.

    GPS navigation services used for disaster relief may be affected due to the ongoing solar storm.

    How far south will the Northern Lights be visible?

    While impacts on the power and communications grid won’t help, many are excited about the chance to see the northern lights, which are created by charged particles from the sun as they interact with Earth’s atmosphere.

    If skies are clear Thursday evening, the Northern Lights could be visible across the United States. Sightings of the northern lights were reported from all over Europe on Thursday.

    Northern lights forecast on Thursday evening.

    Northern lights forecast on Thursday evening.

    This geomagnetic storm could be the strongest since Earth experienced near-global auroras in Mayeven as far south as Florida, when an “extreme” (G5) geomagnetic storm occurred due to two sets of extremely active sunspots.

    7 FACTS ABOUT THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

    Scientists use the Kp index for characterization Extent of geomagnetic stormsand the SWPC uses it to decide whether to issue geomagnetic storm warnings.

    The graphic below is updated every 30 minutes and provides the opportunity to view the Northern Lights in North America.

    This updated graphic shows the Northern Lights forecast every 30 minutes.
    (FOX Weather)

    The highest Kp index values ​​are expected to occur on Thursday evening, reaching 8 out of 9 on the geomagnetic storm scale. The KP value already reached 7.67 on Thursday afternoon. According to SWPC, KP levels could be between 5 and 8 by Friday.

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    Madoc Meredith
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