A powerful geomagnetic storm struck the Earth overnight from Friday to Saturday, marking the sky with northern lights, including in regions where they are almost never seen.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States predicted an “extreme” geomagnetic storm on Friday evening, the first time in nearly 21 years.
In Quebec, many Internet users have shared images of the sky streaked with northern lights. The show was even visible from Montreal, which only happens once in 11 years on average.
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PHOTO FLORENCE CHÉNIER-JACQUES
Montreal
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PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE X ACCOUNT @CLATREIL
Mont-Saint-Hilaire
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PHOTO FROM THE X ACCOUNT @DOM7N1C
Saint-Hyacinthe
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PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE X ACCOUNT @SBOISVERT_SB
Quebec
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PHOTO FROM THE X ACCOUNT @KEVENLE91
Shawinigan
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PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE X ACCOUNT @MARIOSIMARDBQ
Saguenay
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PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE X ACCOUNT @OBSDELAVAL
Laval
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From England to the northern United States, the sky also lit up with the Northern Lights, even in areas where they don’t usually appear.
NOAA forecasts predicted a level 5 geomagnetic storm, the maximum level on the scale used. “GPS, power grids, spacecraft, satellite navigation and other technologies may be affected,” the US agency added.
The last solar storm of such power dates back to October 2003. At the time, the episode nicknamed “the Halloween storms” caused power outages in Sweden and damaged transformers in South Africa.
With Agence France-Presse