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 consecutive night. 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 should arrive this Sunday, May 12, as told on X (formerly Twitter) by Eric Lagadec, an astrophysicist.
Summary of the night: there were a few auroras almost everywhere in France, although weaker than the previous night.
A new very large solar storm is on its way to Earth, expected to arrive today, so stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/q5BklyuiWr— Eric Lagadec (@EricLagadec) May 12, 2024
A phenomenon that occurs every 11 years
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: at least conditions are expected for a G4 (severe) to G5 (extreme) storm, the maximum.
Northern Lights, point at 9:30 a.m.: this is the question we ask ourselves when we wake up with our coffee and croissants! Do we have a chance of seeing the auroras this Sunday evening in France?
The NOAA agency confirms that a new big solar storm is on the way: we should reach https://t.co/7fa8JXeixg
— Xplora (@XploraSpace) May 12, 2024
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 aurora borealis when they reach the Earth’s magnetic field. The last time this phenomenon occurred was in 2003.