Powerful geomagnetic storm enables northern lights in low latitudes

[LazyHippo]

A severe (G4) geomagnetic storm lit up skies across the Northern Hemisphere overnight (Nov. 11-12), with incredible northern lights visible across Canada, the U.S, and as far south as Mexico.

 

The stunning display followed the arrival of multiple coronal mass ejections launched by sunspot AR4274, one of the most energetic sunspot groups of the current solar cycle. The ongoing storm ranks among the strongest of Solar Cycle 25 and last night's peak at G4 clocked in as the third strongest geomagnetic storm this solar cycle. The first two CMEs struck in quick succession last night, compressing Earth's magnetic field and unleashing spectacular aurora shows that lasted well into the night.
 

Some photos taken by some spectators in Northern America

 

Photographer Ross Harried captured this colorful aurora lighting up the skies above Monroe, Wisconsin.
 

 

 

 

 

Space.com's spaceflight writer Josh Dinner also captured the stunning show unfolding over Bloomington, Indiana.

 

 

Auroras paint the sky red over Bloomington, Indiana.(Image credit: Josh Dinner)
 

"Like a truly distracted space journalist, I had completely forgotten to check the aurora forecast. I had also forgotten to take my trash to the street for trash day. So at about 10 p.m. EST I went outside to drag my cans to the curb, looked up, and my jaw dropped." Dinner said. "It's rare for us to get aurora in Indiana. I ran back inside to grab my camera and shot this from my backyard. It would be great (for sky watching) if the sun kept this up indefinitely."
 

Skywatchers at China Camp State Park, California, take in the stunning view in this photo captured by photographer Stephen Lam.
 

 

In San Francisco Stephen Lam took a gathering with the aurora behind.

 

Northern lights above China Camp State Park, California. (Image credit: Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle)
 

Greg Gage captured some incredible photo of the northern lights dancing in the skies above Sistersville, West Virginia.

 

Northern lights above Sistersville, West Virginia. (Image credit: Greg Gage)
 

Now November 13th we can still receive a bit of aurora activity through the night, storm levels are bouncing between category G1 (Minor) and G3 (Strong) as solar wind blows around Earth faster than 700 km/s. NOAA forecasters say there is also a lingering chance of severe G4-class storms today.

 

The last one from El Salvador

 

Northern lights captured at El Salvador. (Image credit: Rene Saade through SpaceWeather.com)

Edited November 14, 2025 by LazyHippo
Adding more

[Lusciousdrunk]

Was cloudy and overcast outside. Missed all of it 😔

[LazyHippo]

Had internet connection disrupted for several hours in the whole Yucatan Peninsula and other parts of Mexico yesterday 😵

 

30 minutes ago, Lusciousdrunk said:

Was cloudy and overcast outside. Missed all of it 😔

 

Same here, the winter storm is still interacting with the Caribbean flow and we have cloudiness ☁️

[maecraes]

Wow, those are some incredible photos! I could barely see it with my eyes, but my camera captured more color variety than I could see from my backyard. I think it is light pollution in the city that limited my view because other folks in more rural areas in my state were posting some incredible photos. This was the best I could get🙃

[RedBaird]

36 minutes ago, LazyHippo said:

Had internet connection disrupted for several hours in the whole Yucatan Peninsula and other parts of Mexico yesterday 😵

 

 

Same here, the winter storm is still interacting with the Caribbean flow and we have cloudiness ☁️

 

Oh, that is too bad!  With reports of it being seen in Florida, USA, I had the thought that it might be seen in Northern Mexico, too.  

 

Rain here, so no chance to see this very rare event at my latitude.   

 

15 minutes ago, maecraes said:

but my camera captured

 

I now wonder if that is how some say that it was "seen" in Florida? 

[RedBaird]

@Caipirinha What are your chances of seeing the effects from the southern pole?  ACK!  You are going into Spring and Winter there! 

[Caipirinha]

52 minutes ago, RedBaird said:

@Caipirinha What are your chances of seeing the effects from the southern pole?  ACK!  You are going into Spring and Winter there! 

 

Might be possible in the southernmost places of Chile (Patagonia), Argentina (Ushuaia), though. 

 

"Aurora Australis", I just read. 

☺️

 

I mean the phenomenon in general. About this specific event I don't think so. 

 

@RedBaird

 

 

Edited November 14, 2025 by Caipirinha

[RedBaird]

9 hours ago, Caipirinha said:

Might be possible in the southernmost places

 

It seems that I pictured you as being 'further south' than you are, just as I pictured @LazyHippo as being further north than he is!  😄 and  

[Caipirinha]

14 minutes ago, RedBaird said:

 

It seems that I pictured you as being 'further south' than you are, just as I pictured @LazyHippo as being further north than he is!  😄 and  

 

Hehehehe I'm in South of Brazil, just not so in south of "south's". 😂

 

 

[Vice86]

10 hours ago, Caipirinha said:

"Aurora Australis", I just read. 

 

[RNGesus]

Me and my wife saw this! We considered driving up to the Star in the mountain but it was so late! Such a rare sight here!

[Sparrow]

teririble days for land surveyours 

[Sparrow]

"Geomagnetic storms are solar-induced disturbances in Earth's magnetosphere that significantly disrupt the

ionosphere, while a GNSS antenna is a receiver that depends on the stable conditions of this same ionosphere to function accurately. A geomagnetic storm degrades the accuracy of a GNSS antenna by causing unpredictable and large delays in the satellite signals as they pass through the disturbed ionosphere, leading to positioning errors and potential signal loss. " @RedBaird @LazyHippo

[RedBaird]

12 hours ago, Sparrow said:

while a GNSS antenna is a receiver

 

OIC !  I had pictured you with an "old school" set of surveyors' tools, not this 'modern' stuff!  😄   

[Sparrow]

19 hours ago, RedBaird said:

 

OIC !  I had pictured you with an "old school" set of surveyors' tools, not this 'modern' stuff!  😄   

ahaha i still use them, but nowadays gnss antennas are a game changer.