A powerful solar storm hit Earth, resulting in stunning displays of colorful lights in the skies across the Northern Hemisphere early on Saturday. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare warning about severe geomagnetic storms after a solar outburst reached Earth on Friday afternoon. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of power or communication disruptions.
The northern lights, visible in the United Kingdom, were expected to last through the weekend and possibly into next week. Many people in the UK shared photos of the lights on social media, with sightings reported as far south as London and southern England. The phenomenon was also observed in other European locations such as Prague and Barcelona.
NOAA advised operators of power plants, spacecraft, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to take precautions. While the storm could produce northern lights as far south as Alabama and northern California, experts cautioned that it would not be as dramatic as the usual auroras, but more like splashes of greenish hues.
The best views of the auroras may come from phone cameras, which are better at capturing light than the naked eye. The storm poses a risk for high-voltage transmission lines for power grids and satellites, which could disrupt navigation and communication services on Earth. NOAA warned that although the storm may not be as intense as the historic solar storm of 1859, it still carries potential risks.