It’s not often that Alabama is named in headlines of anything “Northern.” Friday is an exception.
Media headlines and ledes on Friday say that solar storms now headed toward Earth could interfere with electrical systems and cause Northern Lights “as far South as Alabama.”
The Northern Lights, Aurora Borealis, are a harmless light show, nature’s fireworks. They are usually seen at northerly latitudes during sunspot storms – Canada, Alaska and some northern states.
But here is Friday's national headline from Fox Weather:
'Severe' solar storm could trigger Northern Lights as far south as Alabama on Friday night
CBS News said, “Aurora borealis, otherwise known as the northern lights, could be seen as far south as Alabama and in northern California as well.”
A Level Four advisory was released Thursday by the Space Weather Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency.
The solar storms could potentially disrupt “communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio and satellite operations.”
The May 10-12 storms are the most powerful geomagnetic storms in six years.
If you see any Northern lights and take pictures, please email them for a possible follow-up story. Please include the location and describe what you saw here: ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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