Solar storm may bring northern lights to U.S. but also disrupt communications

For the first time in nearly two decades, a severe solar storm is expected to supercharge the northern lights and could make them visible as far south as Alabama. However, the storm could present disruptions with satellite communications, GPS and potentially power grids. NBC News’ Bill Karins reports on why the solar storm is affecting Earth.
» Subscribe to NBC News: / nbcnews
NBC News Digital is a collection of innovative and powerful news brands that deliver compelling, diverse and engaging news stories. NBC News Digital features NBCNews.com, MSNBC.com, TODAY.com, Nightly News, Meet the Press, Dateline, and the existing apps and digital extensions of these respective properties. We deliver the best in breaking news, live video coverage, original journalism and segments from your favorite NBC News Shows.
Connect with NBC News Online!
Breaking News Alerts: link.nbcnews.com/join/5cj/bre...
Visit NBCNews.Com: www.nbcnews.com/
Find NBC News on Facebook: / nbcnews
Follow NBC News on Twitter: / nbcnews
Get more of NBC News delivered to your inbox: nbcnews.com/newsletters
#SolarStorm #NorthernLights #auroraborealis

[@shigshug8581]

First a total solar eclipse now the northern lights? A great year for astronomy lovers!

[@SUGAR_XYLER]

It's my year...the year of the Dragon 🐉

[@vtwannabe974]

Except for the fact that the clouds are ruining everything for some people 😭

[@annekai]

...and conspiracy nuts.

[@jjk2one]

@@annekai And the commoners that can't figure out science from fiction... so they just rant "conspiracy nuts" and stumple on

[@tski3458]

yep Fox news will blame it on a lib or George.

[@TrafficDE]

I just took some nice pictures of the red and green auroras in south germany. Absolutely stunning.

[@NewJerusalem145]

Revelation 4 Colors of Gods throne above the North Pole magnetic rock

[@davidl1329]

5:35 The man says you do not need $1000 camera to take great photo. iPhone is fine. Well, iPhone costs more than $1000 these days 😅😅😅

[@thevictorianedge5465]

I took pictures with my iPhone and it took great!!

[@arleneanderson5078]

He meant they both cost over $1,000!​@@thevictorianedge5465

[@arlarl5122]

The camera part doesn’t account for $1000 dollars of the cost. The battery likely costs as much as the cameras.

[@SUGAR_XYLER]

I wouldn't know. I only use Samsung

[@ilcyclista1]

My iPhone cost $85.

[@DimJongUn]

"or we could leave you here and I could go" 😂 No clue who this meteorologist is, but I immediately love him

[@user-jq4hz8dr3g]

So do I need to go to work Monday ?

[@mteuk3080]

No

[@ms.demeanors]

Best comment ever. I even peed a lil😂😂😂

[@ThatOpalGuy]

grab that magic eight ball

[@justintime41776]

If you're the fake president you never need to go to work!

[@JesusRodriguez-kd8es]

If going to work means adding content to your onlyfans page, then yes, if the internet doesn't go down that is

[@jrrarglblarg9241]

“Aurora borealis Shining down in Dallas Can you picture that?

[@xXKMCPXx]

Aurora Borealis, in your kitchen, at this time of year.........

[@ThatOpalGuy]

I would prefer to see education...

[@jrrarglblarg9241]

@@ThatOpalGuy Eh, wut?

[@dawnieb.7394]

Reference acknowledged! 😁

[@user-ec3rm9wr1n]

Hocas bocas 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@trainsplanesmore]

Hey, Tom, your microphone works, you don't have to be that loud.

[@lindamaemullins-wr1jg]

Your volume control doesn't work 🤔

[@jackskudlarek3138]

​@@lindamaemullins-wr1jgI can tell if someone is shouting by their tone of voice even if my volume is low. He's a TV news presenter, not a children's youtuber. Our volume controls work. He has 0 need to be shouting.

[@CharlieBrown843]

😂

[@cdvideodump]

Blame Stable Volume

[@silentmajority8365]

WHAT?!

[@NahualliUoxtitla]

Everyone here has been complaining about reception issues today.

[@danielsibley114]

Happening to me right now. My mobile internet and wifi have never been this slow before.

[@RecklessInspirer]

Get rid of T-Mobile.

[@silentmajority8365]

​What?

[@LegendoftheGalacticHero]

@@danielsibley114I actually was having problems yesteday too (in France) both my WiFi and 5g were a mess

[@NerdyShawn]

4:38 you don't need a $1,000 lens, just a $2,000 iPhone. 🤣

[@smugsneasel]

Superintendent Chalmers: Aurora Borealis?! At this time of year, at this time of day, in this part of the country, localized as south as Alabama?! Skinner: Yes.

[@mleecthulhu]

Carrington was on may 10th.

[@GabroPlayz]

...1859

[@lysergicaciddiethylamide6127]

September 2nd*

[@silentmajority8365]

@@GabroPlayz stay in the present Translate to English

[@mleecthulhu]

My bad, it was actually in September...why theu have conflicting info out ther....well, i dont have to tell you all why. 😒

[@joedirt5720]

This is pretty scary... They aren't mentioning what happened during the Charington Event 😞😞😞

[@PaxilRose]

Nothing happened, everything was fine. Boeing airplanes will perform great.

[@narekhart9862]

@@PaxilRose😮

[@LaPlaztique]

The journal of space weather stated that Carrington-level events likely occur once every 100-1000 years. The last one was in 1859.

[@blazingstars748]

Solar Maximum this year 😢

[@MariaCarmen-wb7gv]

3 Rockets sent when the eclipse was going on. I trust no one...

[@JynxedKoma]

@@MariaCarmen-wb7gv Get back to your white padded cell and straight jacket, Maria.

[@thevictorianedge5465]

Yep

[@shondrawhite9317]

​@@MariaCarmen-wb7gvbetter get back down there then. 🥕 🐇 🕳️

[@AndreaCrisp]

I thought it was solar maximum in 2025... Either way, it could get intense before it's starts calming down.

[@terigiese1322]

It’s HAPPENING?!!😮🔥

[@FirstLast-ms4yl]

NBC needs to upgrade their clickbait game. The title doesn't even mention how SHOCKED they are about this DEVASTATING event that will CHANGE EVERYTHING.

[@joedirt5720]

This actually is something potentially worse than anything else they talk about... That's the SCARY part!

[@zyourzgrandzmaz]

No black people involved so it's not news

[@cdalton3169]

Just another day. No issues will result from it. Pretty to look at…

[@judylee1860]

When?

[@Misty-gc6bq]

Sun activity is forecasted to be at it's peak in 2025. I can't imagine what we're in for.

[@shakeyj4523]

It happens every 11 years approximately. It's happened before. You don't have to imagine. Look it up.

[@Misty-gc6bq]

@@shakeyj4523 I was considering what's happening now and wondering how it might be next year.

[@User-rka_zykx76]

NASA is planning on sending people to the moon next year😂

[@jonkaminsky8382]

The End of the World 😳

[@DesertSessions93]

​@@jonkaminsky8382not for everyone, but most yes

[@pinkroses135]

The clouds are ruining it

[@user-sd2ln7ge9e]

That IS exciting!!! Mother Nature is so AWESOME!

[@davepane7306]

I remember the storm from around 2006 I believe it was. I was in NJ and although we had to drive far to have an unobstructed view of the northern horizon, I do remember seeing a faint green haze.

[@mrsjdumas417]

Is this what's wrong with Internet data working on cell phones these past few days??

[@user-gk5ty8sj4i]

No wonder my phone service has been off today.

[@enckidoofalling2883]

Went to G5 not 4 and we just had an X 5 after this newscast

[@daddiodizzle8990]

Great downplaying of the potential destruction of our electrical grid, that would take decades to repair, if a Carrington sized event were to happen today. Bread and circuses, anyone?

[@debraonger2379]

Wow😮

[@VargasandLaRueChannel]

I had a glitch at work. So did my computer

[@TheRevengeSociety]

May i see it?

[@LoreDeluge]

South Louisiana. Power blinked twice

[@arlarl5122]

I’m north of that green line in Colorado, totally clear skies and the sky looks just like it always does.

[@wendyc1902]

Midnight to 4am.

[@lordcockburn3448]

What was that banter at the end??????

[@p.j.dempsey1001]

Wow they are beautiful!

[@joshfriesen3347]

The Aurora Borealis? At this time of year? At this time of day? In this part of the country? Localized entirely within your kitchen?

[@amittaizero]

I see you. I appreciate you.

[@NewJerusalem145]

HAARP

[@catherine9515]

I thought this was called the Aurora Borealis?

[@chadbusch8541]

Aurora Borralis? AT THIS TIME OF YEAR AT THIS TIME OF DAY COMPLETLY LOCALIZED IN YOUR KITCHEN?

[@lanetteratliff648]

@@chadbusch8541exactly 👁️

[@TheKep]

@@chadbusch8541yeeaaaasss

[@shouldhavenotshouldof2031]

⁠​⁠@@chadbusch8541 May I see it?

[@fifthlevelbard9541]

Communications grid blackout. "It was a solar storm."

[@balaramalauder]

Starlink is still working in NZ Auckland

[@djjoshski]

wont be much longer lol

[@TheAccidentalViking]

I live at 63N latitude and we see the aurora often, but sadly we had low clouds last night.

[@joedirt5720]

4:26 the sunspot is 16x larger than EARTH NOT the "U.S"🤦🤦🤦

[@newyears912]

SAME THING 🦅🦅🦅🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@joedirt5720]

@@newyears912 your joking right 🤔

[@revolesto4151]

God bless Planet America!

[@NewJerusalem145]

The sun and moon are within the firmament Local Read your Bibles ❤❤❤❤❤

[@WestonUSofA]

Saw it in Buckeye AZ!

[@chloeedmund4350]

What a crazy year and it's only May!

[@hazel5979]

Im really scared about what's coming next 😭

[@NewJerusalem145]

Revelation 20 Satans little season of deception That’s your timeline…..

[@Djgom3312djshw]

All the clouds are pink!

[@sierrakilo4322]

That’s weird. That’s suspicious

[@user-sd2ln7ge9e]

Wow! When???

[@justinmasters220]

I hate it when people whisper-yell on the news

[@LT808HI]

Interesting there a Portland on both sides of the country

[@techqn]

CBS claims this has been upgraded to a G5 for this evening. Be safe

[@berlindamoustafa1887]

Oh florida getting ripped off .

[@Cornpop-N-DaBoyz]

Not if it's knocking out power grids lol

[@jimallen-nx8hz]

We have the northern lights earlier

[@batshtcrazy5293]

I'm in Florida. Nothing happened. Not north or south. And we didn't get to see the pretty lights. 😒

[@karenashton5053]

Down in Silver City NM

[@not_today_satan_7]

Dang I wish I would have seen this earlier😊

[@1uvendi]

calm down, Tom.

[@sinbadw00t]

we ain't getting to the level of the old Miyake events; be very grateful we are kind of due one as they occur around every 1,000 years lol. They can span over decade for us to actually recover from it... and the geomagnetic storm can be x100 as powerful as the 1859 Carrington event

[@jonkaminsky8382]

.. So, basically all the worst parts of the Bible?

[@mleecthulhu]

Same date too, May 10th.

[@sinbadw00t]

@@jonkaminsky8382 no that is when the north and south poles shift on earth ROFL... and the continents shift due to changes in the tectonic plates and we get 1 big super continent! Now that would apocalyptic at that point the 4 horsemen would ride out!!!!!!!!!

[@ReverseDragonCrouchingBadger]

Amazing

[@forevercreating]

Got images here in southern Calif desert, my sister got some in Arizona.

[@jojothetasmaniansassmonkey8866]

would this put fly-by-wire aircraft in danger?

[@BSC29PalmsYG]

Was seen Friday night from Southern California

[@thevictorianedge5465]

Pink sky in NC tonight. I took video footage and it was so pretty!!

[@ryanjohnson3615]

@4:21 the dude confuses the Earth with the U.S.

[@charlesgarrett7766]

There is no confusion. We will take over the world!

[@user-ec3rm9wr1n]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@soullesspancake7405]

The US will use anything but metrics system

[@solitarymystic4672]

They always call the US, the world

[@user-ec3rm9wr1n]

@@solitarymystic4672 they call. Me the sun sometimes 🌝🌞

[@michaelbisceglia9154]

I think I might panic starting NNNOOOOOOOWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!

[@211212112]

Back in 2005i could barely see red on the northern horizon near the border of western TN and western KY. Tonight a few hours after sunset the northern sky was much more red and over a much larger area so much so I quickly decided I must be wrong and looking west and it from the sun instead I was looking north at the northern lights. No greens, colors, or flashing, but a unique sight and definitely noticable. I just walked outside, but could see nothing now. Could be due to lights being too bright around the house, idk. Probably a once in a lifetime thing.

[@moonshoes11]

Bring it.

[@NahualliUoxtitla]

Careful what you wish for! 🎉

[@emon8597]

I'm not lying, I've thought about having a Lt.Dan moment screaming at the cosmos.

[@Anthony-dj4nd]

Cool

[@user-nw5ml7lr2b]

No part of that gee field was close to AL!!!!!

[@STUDOFCHEEZ]

You know, i knew i saw a tiny dot south on the sun with my eclipse glasses. I freaking predicted it without knowing it

[@NewJerusalem145]

It’s called the Black Hole Sun

[@ironinsane203]

I live in Southern U.S. i Guess we're people are the lucky ones and we can communicate only in south

[@davidboultinghouse3332]

Let’s see my cell worked all the time but it was beautiful in the northern States

[@infinitevibes007]

I can’t find the sun spot

[@johnhenryruminski8662]

THE ALMIGHTY IS HERE GET READY !!!! Love John !!!!

[@DesertMermaid]

I saw the last one in 2003. I was in Southern California

[@BD-cm7xc]

Thank you. It's very important that old timers like you share information with the new generation. A lot of elderly people talked about this 2003 Halloween solar storm too.

[@jermainesimmons2944]

Barely getting northern lights here in Des Moines!

[@GloriaAtimYoutubeCoach]

How long will this last for?

[@LaPlaztique]

It is supposed to last into Monday.

[@4-Cuddle_Baby]

What is not clearly understood is why it could mess with communications?

[@mleecthulhu]

EMPs...they fry everything

[@lysergicaciddiethylamide6127]

Your onlyfans model will still be there tomorrow

[@NewJerusalem145]

Just predictive programming for when they shut down the grid intentionally Have to have a “boogie man”

[@AngelinaCruz357]

It's sure to say, politics are not causing this magnificent phenomenon!

[@stevohmelike]

Bro I’m scared af right now.

[@Cheddar123]

Earth POV: Hes acting up again guys Jupiter send in more asteroids please before he eats us .

[@K8TJoJo]

We were leaning abt this in science yesterday

[@NewJerusalem145]

“Trust the Science” Science is Magic

[@savage22bolt32]

He forgot to say "put the eclipse glasses on"...

[@user-sd2ln7ge9e]

On Mother’s Day? Did I get the date right???

[@user-fg4gi4fm8h]

When they say don’t panic. That’s when you start to panic

[@Thoughts_With_color]

See it here in the Florida Keys.

[@mattdorsey2244]

Looking south, right?

[@casefoeface4364]

I’m so excited

[@mollycblaeser]

My friend saw these last night, so I jumped out of bed to check the backyard. Sky looked normal, maybe a bit more grey. Then I saw posts this morning that said to the naked eye, the sky looks normal -- but the lowlights setting on a camera will bring out the color! Super disappointed I didn't bring my phone with me last night! I'm gonna try again tonight: seeing the northern lights is on my bucket list!

[@trey854]

Seen it from south GA with moon up got pics

[@jimallen-nx8hz]

We had them earlier in s florida

[@yatyas311]

Great time to be a prepper

[@jjk2one]

It's an ancient holiday I'll leave it at that

[@marygee3981]

❤People saw this in the 1950's.😊

[@davidschimmel8330]

I think there is some exaggeration to how far South it will be seen. If you live as far North as Chicago, San Francisco, or New York you might catch a glimpse of it along the horizon but if you live in Dallas, Albuquerque, or Charlotte it is not happening. I would imagine the people living in the extreme Northern USA like in Duluth, MN. will get a tremendous view.

[@zim_christ_lion]

I believe Georgia and Florida had the Lights too. It was on the news I was watching from over here in Zimbabwe.

[@nonamegonzalez5711]

OH BILL!!

[@morgangentle1515]

Internet out in Alberta the wifi is out

[@ImaniRah]

somethings' fishyyyyy

[@NewJerusalem145]

HAARP is what it is

[@shawnbaird2015]

😮every night i see lights im in NY😅

[@alienrefugee51]

What they failed to tell you, is the reason why this is happening and why we've set records for auroras in lower latitudes in the past two years. It's because the magnetosphere, Earth's protection against solar storms, has been deteriorating in recent decades. It will either happen with these latest storms, or later this year, but our shield will not be able to handle the incoming plasma and power transformers and communications will go down. There could be a cascading failure of the the power grid as enough transformers in a region fail and the others cannot compensate. The media won't tell you how serious this actually is because the governmental agencies don't want a panicking populace, but this is a real threat to our modern civilization.

[@mleecthulhu]

Yup..that "hole in the ozone" they stopped talking about 😂

[@mleecthulhu]

Same reason the senators were given sat phones 💫

[@CharlieBrown843]

Exactly! This explains why we’ve been heavily distracted with “fact news” for the past 4 years so that the elites can prepare for this. Now we all know where the toilet paper and food went during the c19 pandemic.

[@alienrefugee51]

@@mleecthulhu A new hole in the Ozone formed. Yes, it is due to the weakening magnetic field as the poles shift.

[@Therealanthonymartin]

How can you prove this?

[@teresa.tells.it.like.it.is.2]

You forgot to tell us: "It's not 'the end times'!". 😊😂😮

[@FrankGallagherr]

Like the “ Knowing “ movie

[@timbrown8038]

Can you hear me now?

[@nicholasshampine5023]

Missouri got it here

[@Bonitaslifestyle]

Michigan pink sky right now!

[@monkeyflower954]

Aurora Borealis in Aalaabamma ❤

[@te1769]

4:45 “You do not need a $1000 lense”, but they still use $1000 IPhones 😆

[@kentneumann5209]

It's 1:25 AM in SW Minnesota right now. They are visible but unspectacular. One washed out white color and not moving. Just immobile streaks across the sky to the north. So far anyway. After the amazing ones i saw in the mid 90's... Meh. I'm going back to bed.

[@ourworldisbeautiful2912]

I didn't know about this. I missed it. :(