Northern California skywatchers may want to keep an eye on the northern horizon tonight. A rare and powerful solar storm could make the Northern Lights visible far beyond their usual range — potentially reaching California.
According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, Earth is currently being hit by an S4-level solar radiation storm, the strongest of its kind since 2003. The event was triggered by an intense solar flare and has already produced a severe geomagnetic storm that reached G4 levels earlier Monday.
If those conditions return this evening, forecasters say the aurora borealis could be visible much farther south than normal, including parts of Northern California. Similar solar storms in October 2003 lit up skies as far south as California, Texas, and even Florida.
The best chance to see the lights is after dark in areas with minimal light pollution. Look toward the northern horizon and give your eyes time to adjust. Even if the colors aren’t obvious to the naked eye, experts recommend trying your phone camera — modern sensors are often better at capturing faint greens, reds, and pinks than human vision.
While the storm is impressive visually, it also comes with potential side effects. Strong geomagnetic activity can interfere with radio communications, GPS accuracy, and power systems, though widespread outages are not expected. Utilities are better prepared than they were two decades ago, and space weather officials are monitoring conditions closely.