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3:02PM May 11, 2024

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GENERATIONAL AURORA EVENT MAY BE VISIBLE LOCALLY AGAIN TONIGHT… After an incredible night with thousands of stunning photos of the aurora borealis, night sky viewers MAY be in for another treat tonight and/or tomorrow (Sunday) night across Alabama and northwest Florida. I have compiled this detailed watch guide for tonight of what to expect. Please help get the word out about this as this is most definitely a once in a generation but perhaps even once in a lifetime-type event!

NO WAY TO KNOW FOR SURE IF AURORA VISIBLE AGAIN LOCALLY… No one, and I truly mean no one, knows if the aurora will be visible as far south as Alabama or Florida again tonight. There is simply no way to know for sure as the geomagnetic storm ebbs and flows in terms of the intensity happening at any given moment. What we do know is the Space Weather Prediction Center (SPWC) has indicated conditions will be at G4 conditions tonight with a chance of G5 conditions yet again. This magnitude of solar storm (G5) has not happened since October 2003, but the aurora was not seen in our local area before last night since 1989. This IS a very rare event. Once in a generation for sure, but perhaps once in a lifetime.

TIMING – NIGHT SKIES… It is impossible to predict where and what time aurora displays will be most visible. Sunset is at 7:34PM CDT. Aim for after 8PM. The aurora was intermittently visible all night last night with a peak around 9-10PM.

LOOK TO THE NORTHERN HORIZON… IF, and that is big IF, we are able to see the aurora/”northern lights” from Alabama and northwest Florida again tonight, it will be most pronounced on the northern horizon. Look north, look straight above your head, and make sure to scan the sky a bit and look northeast and southwest. The aurora will appear as a faint glow and be more visible using a smartphone camera.

MORE CLOUDS AROUND LOCALLY TONIGHT… Unlike last night, I am expecting scattered clouds across south Alabama and northwest Florida this evening and into tonight. Some spots may have the sky obscured by clouds, thus limiting the overall view of the aurora. If skies remain mostly clear or even partly cloudy, you should be able to see the aurora locally IF it is visible this far south.

WHAT TO EXPECT IF AURORA IS VISIBLE… If the aurora is visible tonight, you will be able to see it with your eyes as a faint, colorful glow that ebbs and flows. It goes away, it comes back, it is NOT constant. If you end up in a really good spot (no way to forecast what specific locations will see!), you will be able to see light pillars “dancing” in the sky.

IS IT WORTH IT TO DRIVE TO SEE THE AURORA… Is it worth it to drive to the countryside to see this if you’re in a city/town? I can’t answer that for you. For me, it was 100% worth the time and gasoline to go see the aurora last night. I live in Brewton, which is a smaller city in Escambia County, AL. I drove about 5 miles north of town, pulled over in Kirkland, then drove to Appleton, which is a small community about 10-15 miles north of town, well away from city lights. We were able to have a fine view of the aurora with details visible to the eyes alone. Some of my fondest memories as a kid are being able to experience things like this. I did not see the aurora as a kid, but I vividly remember my grandmother taking me to see a breathtaking meteor shower late one night. There will be some potential obstacles tonight (uncertainty as to just how far south aurora will be visible AND potential for more clouds locally), but I HOPE we have another vivid display of the aurora as it really is an awe-inspiring experience!

SMARTPHONE CAMERAS SHOW MORE DETAIL… If we are able to see the aurora locally, you will be able to see the aurora with a smartphone way better than your eyes can see it. Plain and simple. The photos shared widely online are stunning and beautiful, but 99% of them are phones and cameras using “night mode” or a longer exposure. If you have an iPhone, make sure you’re using the 3 second “night exposure.” I learned today there is actually a 10 second night mode as well to get even more vivid photos. If you have an Android or some other kind of smartphone that is not an iPhone, I would recommend searching online for how to do this for your specific model.

AURORA DUE TO SOLAR STORM… The sun regularly emits coronal mass ejections (CMEs), but the CMEs hitting the earth yesterday, today, and tomorrow are much more powerful than usual. Charged particles from the CMEs interact with the magnetic field creating stunning displays of color in the night skies across the planet. It is very, very rare to have these vivid, colorful aurora borealis displays in the lower latitudes where we live in Alabama and Florida. The aurora/”northern lights” are frequently seen in Alaska, Canada, and sometimes even in the northern continental U.S.

THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR PHOTOS… The fact is, there are many folks who simply cannot leave their home or place of work in the peak viewing hours for the aurora. I know the many thousands of photos have been a source of joy for many folks across our local area and beyond. If you are able to see the aurora again tonight, please share your photos for others to see.

MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF STRONG STORMS POSSIBLE THIS WEEK… No hazardous weather is expected across south Alabama or northwest Florida tonight or on Sunday. Rain becomes likely on Monday with a chance of strong to severe storms becoming possible Monday night into Tuesday. Another, separate round of severe storms may become possible later in the week as well.

APP… If you haven’t already downloaded the RedZone Weather app, now is a great time to do that. redzoneweather.com/app is the link to the free download. Once you have the RZW app installed on your iOS or Android device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab to turn on the specific notifications you’d like to receive. All notifications are handcrafted by me. No automation and we promise not to bug you!

I look forward to trying to see the aurora tonight. I hope it is visible for you and your family as well, wherever you are trying to see it!

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7:01AM May 11, 2024

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RAIN LIKELY MONDAY; SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLE MONDAY INTO TUESDAY… We are getting a break from active weather on this Saturday with plenty of sunshine expected with highs in the 70s and 80s. Monday is slated to feature scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms ahead of a potential severe weather risk setting up Monday into Tuesday. Rain amounts through Tuesday will generally stack up in the 2-3 inch range in total across south Alabama and northwest Florida. This will likely be a good, beneficial, soaking rain.

SEVERE WEATHER RISK EARLY NEXT WEEK… Details are still a bit fuzzy but I am expecting an increase in confidence in the overall parameters that could support scattered severe storms across the region on Monday P.M. into Tuesday. This looks like another setup where all severe weather hazards, including tornadoes and damaging wind gusts, will be possible. I will be sorting through model guidance today and bring you an update either tonight or tomorrow morning with the very latest information.

APP… If you haven’t already downloaded the RedZone Weather app, now is a great time to do that. redzoneweather.com/app is the link to the free download. Once you have the RZW app installed on your iOS or Android device, be sure to visit the Alerts tab to turn on the specific notifications you’d like to receive. All notifications are handcrafted by me. No automation and we promise not to bug you!

I will have updates posted throughout the day, as needed, in the RedZone Weather app. Have a wonderful Saturday!

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