After a dazzling display of northern lights around Okotoks earlier this week, there could be repeat performances over the next several days.
A recent coronal mass ejection (CME), an eruption of solar material and magnetic fields from the sun, could result in a severe geomagnetic storm, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Centre.
As a result, NOAA is forecasting a G4 geomagnetic storm with a Kp index of eight today.
It issued a storm watch on Oct. 9. The agency said G4 storm watches are very rare.
Northern lights are expected to be “active” at a Kp index of seven, and “very active” when the index hits nine.
The aurora forecast for Oct. 11 calls for a G1 storm and Kp index of five.
Northern lights, or aurora, could be visible as far south as Alabama, and the storm is strong enough that critical infrastructure could be affected, the agency said.
