A solar storm has been affecting Earth since Friday, May 10. Northern lights have been seen across France. Will the phenomenon happen again this Sunday evening?
During the night of Saturday May 11 to Sunday May 12, the Northern Lights were observed in the French sky for the second night in a row. It was caused by a solar storm. She is particularly powerful, since she is at level 5, the highest level. During the second night, the Northern Lights were less powerful than on the night of Friday May 10 to Saturday May 11.
However, a new solar storm is heading towards Earth and is expected to arrive this Sunday, May 12, as told on X (formerly Twitter) by Eric Lagadec, an astrophysicist.
According to the X account specializing in space, Xplora, “the NOAA agency (American Oceanic and Atmospheric Observation Agency) confirms that a new big solar storm is on the way: we should reach a new peak this Sunday. The intensity of geomagnetic storms will vary in intensity but remains high: conditions are forecast for at least a G4 (severe) to G5 (extreme) storm, the maximum.
In fact, a level 4 or higher vigilance notice has been issued for Sunday. It could therefore be possible to observe the Northern Lights tonight. Every eleven years, the Sun reaches its peak of activity. There are then solar flares which create auroras when they reach the Earth’s magnetic field. The last time this phenomenon occurred was in 2003.
