In a rare and spectacular show of nature’s beauty, the northern lights have been visible as far south as Florida this week. That means residents of Flagler County and the surrounding area have been able to catch glimpses of phenomenon usually reserved to the far north, and capture stunning images of it.
Residents of Flagler and Volusia counties, as well as much of the rest of Florida, were quick to flood social media with images depicting the pinks and greens of aurora borealis. And it wasn’t just Florida – Americans reported seeing the lights in states like New York, Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Washington, and all across the country.
According to meteorological experts, the unusually widespread occurrence of the northern lights is due to a powerful geomagnetic storm. Particles that originate from the sun reach Earth’s atmosphere and react to our planet’s magnetic field, causing colorful glows in the skies. These displays are most common close to the Earth’s north and south poles due to the stronger magnetic field in those regions.
In regions with light pollution, the lights were only faintly visible to the naked eye over night Tuesday and Wednesday. Residents were able to capture much clearer images of the occurrence with the long-exposure feature on their cameras. Even with just an iPhone, many residents were able to transform a trace glow into a vivid array of bright colors.
While aurora borealis is among the most celebrated natural phenomena on Earth, it can also be challenging in the technological world. The geomagnetic storms behind the lights are known to disrupt GPS systems and affect the orbits of satellites. Even astronauts aboard the International Space Station may be subject to unusually high levels of radiation, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Americans as far south as Florida may still be able to catch a glimpse of the northern lights Wednesday night into Thursday morning. The best window for viewing should be between 10:00 am and 2:00 am, and the clearest view would generally be some distance from city lights.
Chris Gollon is a Flagler County resident since 2004, as well as a staple of the local independent music scene and avid observer of Central Florida politics, arts, and recreation.
