SAN ANGELO, TX — After West Texans caught a rare glimpse of the northern lights Tuesday night, forecasters say there’s a chance — but no guarantee — that the aurora could return this evening.
According to the National Weather Service office in San Angelo, another geomagnetic storm is approaching Earth today. Whether it will produce visible auroras again depends on when the storm arrives. If it reaches Earth during daylight hours, the aurora would not be visible. If it holds off until after dark, skywatchers might get another show.
Forecasters stated that the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Boulder, Colorado, is monitoring the event and that timing remains uncertain. A post from the SWPC early Wednesday morning reported that strong (G3) geomagnetic storm conditions are ongoing, with the potential for severe (G4) levels later in the day as another coronal mass ejection — or CME — reaches Earth.
The aurora seen across much of the U.S. Tuesday night was caused by two nearly simultaneous CMEs from the Sun. The third, still inbound, could again trigger visible lights depending on its speed and solar wind interactions.
For those hoping to catch a glimpse, the NWS recommends getting away from city lights, using night mode on a phone camera, and keeping expectations realistic — the chance remains possible but “highly uncertain.”
Meanwhile, West Central Texas is experiencing above-normal temperatures this week, with highs in the low to mid-80s and mild overnight lows staying above freezing. A few light showers are possible by Sunday night.
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