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Northern Lights could be visible in North Florida due to geomagnetic storm

FILE - In this image taken with a long exposure, people look at the night sky towards the northern lights, or Aurora Borealis, May 10, 2024, in Estacada, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File) (Jenny Kane, Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Hurricane Milton has dissipated, leaving the skies clear for this weekend.

According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, a “severe” G4 geomagnetic storm watch is underway, which is forecast to last through Friday.

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Since the level will be an eight, the Aurora Borealis could be seen as far south as Central Florida.

Will it be seen?

According to our sister station WKMG, if the Aurora is visible, the sky will be red and very low to the horizon.

When will it happen?

The geomagnetic storm will be strongest on Thursday evening, with the highest chances of seeing it, gradually dropping this weekend, according to University of Alaska researchers.

Earlier this year, a G5 geomagnetic storm caused the Northern Lights to be seen as far south as South Florida. While the storm isn’t as powerful, there are low chances that it will reach as far as Central Florida.

Typical viewing for geomagnetic storm conditions

What are the Northern Lights?

The Northern Lights, referred to as the Aurora Borealis, is a natural light show that occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with the gases of the Earth’s upper atmosphere, giving the sky a dance show with either green, blue, pink, red, or violet in it.

The best time to see the Northern Lights is between August and April, with October and November being the Peak times. The best time to see them is at 10 p.m.


About the Author

Jenn Samsel joined WJXT in September 2024 as a Content Gather. She has a passion for writing, reporting and is a weather/Hurricane enthusiast. She is excited to be part of News 4 Jax team. She graduated from the A.I Ft. Lauderdale with a BS in Graphic Design.

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