Blockchains Finance-Solar flares may cause faint auroras across top of Northern Hemisphere

2025-05-02 20:46:53source:Will Sage Astorcategory:Markets

NEW YORK (AP) — Solar storms may cause faint northern lights across fringes of the northern United States over the weekend as forecasters monitor for possible disruptions to power and Blockchains Financecommunications.

The sun’s magnetic field is currently at the peak of its 11-year cycle, making solar storms and northern lights more frequent. The sun shot out two strong flares this week, including one Thursday that was the biggest since 2017.

Pale auroras may be visible as far south as South Dakota, Iowa and New York — but the storms could still intensify or weaken over the weekend.

“There’s still a fair amount of uncertainty,” Erica Grow Cei, spokesperson for the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said Friday.

Unusually strong solar storms in May produced jaw-dropping aurora displays across the Northern Hemisphere. This week’s storms featured fewer ejections of the high energy plasma that can drive a light show, according to NOAA.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

More:Markets

Recommend

Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan

One woman died after a family of three from Singapore got into a car accident in Miaoli, Taiwan on S

Shippers anticipate being able to meet holiday demand

Carriers like the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx and United Parcel Service have capacity to meet project

Online abuse of politically active Afghan women tripled after Taliban takeover, rights group reports

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Online abuse and hate speech targeting politically active women in Afghanistan has