On May 9, 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the USA issued a severe geomagnetic storm watch, its first since 2005, for late on May 10 and continuing into the early hours of May 11.

The category G4 watch signals the possibility that a concentration of energy flaring from the sun could disturb Earth’s electromagnetic field, possibly disrupting communications and causing power grid failures.

The geomagnetic disturbance in the atmosphere will likely create aurora borealis displays, usually confined to polar regions, as far south as Alabama and northern California.

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