WOAY-TV (Oak Hill, WV): The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center confirms a severe geomagnetic storm is still on track to impact Earth later today into the weekend.
FRIDAY, MAY 10:
Chief Meteorologist Chad Merrill got a chance to join and interact with the staff at the Space Weather Prediction Center for the latest:
Additional information concerning how the likely Aurora Borealis will impact visibility of the International Space Station, which will be visible in the sky around 4:20 a.m. on Saturday across southern West Virginia. Included in this video is information on the link between severe geomagnetic storms and the sunspot cycle discussed in today’s press conference with the Space Weather Prediction Center:
Chief Meteorologist Chad Merrill has the latest:
At least five Earth directed coronal mass ejections were observed. The result could be interrupted satellite signals and GPS on Friday through the weekend.
The Geomagnetic Storm will also increase the KP index, a very good measure of how far south you can see the Aurora Borealis. The last time we had a G4 Storm, which is ranked as a severe solar storm, was March 23rd, 2024, and the KP index reached 7. When the KP index hits 7, you can see the Aurora Borealis or northern lights, as far south as the Upper Midwest and Ohio Valley.
The last time we had a G5, which is an extreme storm, was October of 2003. Power outages were reported in Sweden and power transformers were damaged in South Africa during this extreme storm. Additionally, the KP index hit 8-9, which allows the northern lights to be visible into southern West Virginia. Over the weekend, the sky will clear each night and the northern lights will be visible.
