Northern lights on full display across US, Europe on Friday: See photos

JJ Hensley and Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY
Updated ·4 min read
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The northern lights provided a rare sight for residents across the U.S. and around the world Friday night, with a powerful solar storm fueling a spectacle seen as far south as the Florida Keys.

Strong solar flares the sun has been emitting since Wednesday morning were responsible for the northern lights being visible across a wide swath of North America and Europe.

Seven coronal mass ejections began entering the Earth's outer atmosphere on Friday, said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The agency issued a rare Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch this week for the first time in 19 years, but announced Friday evening that extreme (G5) conditions reached Earth at 6:54 p.m. Eastern time. The last extreme event occurred with the "Halloween storms" in October 2003.

Because the sun is at the height of its 11-year-cycle, conditions were optimal for the auroras to put on a light show that electrified sky watchers and appeared to far more Americans than usual.

"I never in my wildest dreams thought I would see it from my front yard in Key Largo (Florida,) said Mike Theiss, a veteran extreme nature photographer and storm chaser. He'd been seeing the news about the solar storms all day Friday and was "a bit jealous" he would miss out on the auroras. But then he started seeing photos posted in real time on social media, in South Carolina, then Georgia and then the Bahamas.

Incredulous about that sighting, he figured he'd take a chance. "I walked out the front door and there were the lights. I could see a faint red glow with the naked eye," Theiss told USA TODAY. "I was looking at the northern lights. I still can't believe it."

Sky gazers, if you didn’t have a chance to catch the northern lights on Friday, May 10, you can try again today. Forecasters are predicting that the aurora will be visible across many parts of the United States if the weather permits. There have been several reports of power grid irregularities and functional decreases in high-frequency, communications and GPS systems, according to a report from NOAA.

Although the northern lights did interrupt some system functionalities, the phenomena has caused major mishaps in the past. In 1989, the aurora managed to knock out the power in Quebec for nine hours. However, the aurora was the strongest in 1859 when the lights shined so bright it was mistakenly for daylight and lasted for a day, The Planetary Society reported.

Here's a look at some of the images captured around the U.S. and in Europe.

Northern lights: What's your chance of seeing the northern lights tonight? A look at Saturday's forecast

The Aurora borealis dances in the Tallahassee sky late Friday night, May 10, 2024.
The Aurora borealis dances in the Tallahassee sky late Friday night, May 10, 2024.
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, as seen in Oakland Township on Friday, May 10, 2024.
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, as seen in Oakland Township on Friday, May 10, 2024.
The Aurora borealis dances in the Tallahassee sky late Friday night, May 10, 2024. For best viewing shoot it on night mode with at least a three second exposure.
The Aurora borealis dances in the Tallahassee sky late Friday night, May 10, 2024. For best viewing shoot it on night mode with at least a three second exposure.
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, as seen in Whitmore Lake, Michigan on May 10, 2024.
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, as seen in Whitmore Lake, Michigan on May 10, 2024.
Northern lights or aurora borealis illuminate the night sky along a highway north of San Francisco in Middletown, California on May 11, 2024. The most powerful solar storm in more than two decades struck Earth, triggering spectacular celestial light shows from Tasmania to Britain -- and threatening possible disruptions to satellites and power grids as it persists into the weekend.
Nashville, Tennessee residents see the northern lights illuminate the night sky on Friday, May 10.
Nashville, Tennessee residents see the northern lights illuminate the night sky on Friday, May 10.
The magical phenomena fascinated many onlookers in Chelsea, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham as they took out their phones to capture the moment.
The magical phenomena fascinated many onlookers in Chelsea, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham as they took out their phones to capture the moment.
Northern lights seen in Big Point, Mississippi.
Northern lights seen in Big Point, Mississippi.
Northern Lights displayed outside a home in Mobile, Alabama.
Northern Lights displayed outside a home in Mobile, Alabama.

Geomagnetic Storm: Solar storm is powerful enough to disrupt communications: Why NOAA says not to worry

Northern lights early Saturday near Canyon Lake in Arizona on May 11, 2024.
Northern lights early Saturday near Canyon Lake in Arizona on May 11, 2024.
The northern lights are seen about 11:30 p.m. on Friday, May 10, 2024 at Whiskeytown Lake near Redding, California.
The northern lights are seen about 11:30 p.m. on Friday, May 10, 2024 at Whiskeytown Lake near Redding, California.
People look at the Northern lights near Cashion, Okla., Friday, May, 10, 2024.
People look at the Northern lights near Cashion, Okla., Friday, May, 10, 2024.
The Northen Lights, or aurora borealis, seen Friday, May 10, 2024, in Alaiedon Township, Mich.
The Northen Lights, or aurora borealis, seen Friday, May 10, 2024, in Alaiedon Township, Mich.

'Absolutely incredible'

Unbelievable illumination of the Aurora borealis in Florida

Aurora borealis 'dazzle' in the sky in Europe

WHITLEY BAY, ENGLAND - MAY 10: People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, on May 10, 2024 in Whitley Bay, England. The UK met office said a strong solar storm may allow northern parts of the UK the chance to see displays of aurora. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
WHITLEY BAY, ENGLAND - MAY 10: People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, on May 10, 2024 in Whitley Bay, England. The UK met office said a strong solar storm may allow northern parts of the UK the chance to see displays of aurora. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
WHITLEY BAY, ENGLAND - MAY 10: The aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, are visible over St Marya€?s lighthouse near Whitley Bay on May 10, 2024 in Whitley Bay, England. The UK met office said a strong solar storm may allow northern parts of the UK the chance to see displays of aurora. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
WHITLEY BAY, ENGLAND - MAY 10: The aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, are visible over St Marya€?s lighthouse near Whitley Bay on May 10, 2024 in Whitley Bay, England. The UK met office said a strong solar storm may allow northern parts of the UK the chance to see displays of aurora. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
WHITLEY BAY, ENGLAND - MAY 10: People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, on May 10, 2024 in Whitley Bay, England. The UK met office said a strong solar storm may allow northern parts of the UK the chance to see displays of aurora. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
WHITLEY BAY, ENGLAND - MAY 10: People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, on May 10, 2024 in Whitley Bay, England. The UK met office said a strong solar storm may allow northern parts of the UK the chance to see displays of aurora. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

Contributing: Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Northern lights photos from aurora borealis in US, Europe Friday

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