Two giant holes in the Sun could create impactful space weather for Earth in early February.
Recent NOAA satellite images show two coronal holes, areas on the surface of the Sun devoid of plasma. Forecasters with NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) are monitoring the larger coronal hole in the Northern Hemisphere and a smaller, narrower hole in the Southern Hemisphere.
“Both are likely to provide an enhanced and disturbed solar wind environment to start off February, but our models indicate more likely influences from the northern CH (coronal hole),” said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
These dark areas on the Sun, as seen in satellite images, can produce space weather events known as coronal hole high-speed streams (CH HSS), which can trigger Northern Lights on Earth.
The SWPC rates solar storms on a five-level scale, with five being the most extreme and rarest space weather conditions. As of Tuesday, the SWPC is considering active conditions between Feb. 1 and 3, just short of G1, the first level of a geomagnetic storm.
As the CH HSS influences first begin to reach Earth, there is a chance for G1 (minor) storm conditions.
If G1 levels are reached as a coronal high-speed stream impacts Earth, the Northern Lights could be visible along the northern tier and Upper Midwest.
