There was much said about the potential of “space weather” disruption prior to a series of solar flare outbursts or “Coronal Mass Ejection” (CME) events this weekend. However, despite some of the more alarming predictions, the geomagnetic issues appear to be minimal.
The aurora, essentially widespread ‘Northern Lights’ was visible last night over northern part of the Northern Hemisphere. Canadians, Americans and Europeans were able to see a rare event. Typically, the Northern Lights are centered closer to the geomagnetic poles; however, with the sun storm interacting with the atmosphere the light display is visible further south Friday and Saturday night.
[…] The US government’s advice to the public on how to prepare for a space weather event largely resembles the same steps you’d take in response to an extended power outage.
For example, the government recommends keeping extra batteries or a hand-powered charger available for small electronic devices. Officials say you may want to disconnect electric appliances to protect them from power surges and limit your electricity usage during a solar weather event. You may also want to keep your car’s gas tank at least half-full so that you do not need to visit a gas station (which needs electricity to operate the pumps). (read more)