
ASHEBORO N.C. (ACME NEWS) – Tonight, for the second time this year, a major solar storm brought auroras to the skies over North Carolina.
The rare celestial show was the result of a powerful solar storm, often called a geomagnetic storm, the result of a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun earlier this week. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), a fast CME erupted from the Sun on the evening of October 8th, 2024. Traveling through space at around 2.9 million miles per hour the CME reached earth on the afternoon of October 10th resulting in dim auroras over North Carolina immediately after sunset.
WHATS A CME?
A coronal mass ejection (CME) is a cloud of charged particles ejected from the sun at high speeds. The auroras visable in the sky are the result of charged particles from the Sun colliding with Earth’s magnetic field, which directs them toward the magnetic poles. The particles then interact with gases in the atmosphere, causing them to emit light in various colors.
Social media feeds quickly filled with photos of the aurors. In many places, especially near city lights, the aurors were only faintly visible to the naked eye but could be easily photographed using long-exposure photography, such as night mode on phone cameras.
According to data from the SWPC, the solar storm peaked at around 8 p.m. with a kP index of 8.5, putting the storm close to reaching G5, or an ‘Extrme’ rating from the SWPC. As of 3 a.m. on October 11th, the storm was in decline with falling kP values each hour.
Solar storms have the potential to disrupt technology and critical infrastructure. Charged particles can interact with transmission lines and induce currents, resulting in voltage regulation issues on the power grid. The charged particles can also have effects on satellites impacting communication and GPS signals.
So far, there have been no reports of any serious outages or other effects from the storm. The SWPC routinely notifies officials and critical infrastructure operators of upcoming solar storms so they can take precautions and prepare equipment.
Auroras are very rarely visible in North Carolina. Typically, they are most commonly seen near the Earth’s poles, with the northern lights appearing in high-latitude areas like Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavia. However, during periods of strong solar storm activity, such as a ‘G3’ or stronger solar storm, auroras can sometimes extend to lower latitudes and be able to be seen as far south as North Carolina.

Auroras are closely tied to the Sun’s 11-year cycle of activity. As the cycle reaches its peak, known as the solar maximum, more sunspots and solar flares increase the likelihood of CMEs, which can lead to stunning aurora displays far from the poles.
The most recent similar event before October 2024 was in May 2024, when strong solar storms caused auroras to reach the central United States. Overall, North Carolina might see auroras once every few years under optimal conditions​.
For those hoping to catch future auroras, NOAA recommends checking aurora forecasts and finding a dark location away from city lights, especially on clear nights between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
For further details and real-time updates, visit NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center at NOAA’s website.
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