Intense geomagnetic storms could make auroras visible in southern US | US weather

The aurora could be visible across Canada and much of the northern US states Monday evening, and perhaps even further south, following a major disruption in the Earth’s magnetic field, according to forecasts.

The forecast, produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center, comes amid intense geomagnetic storms and solar radiation, said Shawn Dahl, the center’s services coordinator.

Geomagnetic storms could lead to auroras being visible much further south than is usually seen.

But storms can also interfere with satellite operations, GPS communications and other infrastructure, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The intensity of this storm has not been seen in more than two decades, Dahl said. The storm is not expected to weaken significantly until Tuesday.

In November, solar storms brought vibrant auroras to parts of Europe, including Hungary and the United Kingdom, and as far south as Kansas, Colorado, and Texas in the United States.