Another Shot at Aurora Borealis Above Coastlines, Washington, Oregon After Major Solar Action

Published 9/16/24 at 6:45 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Oregon Coast) – More solar flare action on the sun this weekend is prompting the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Colorado to declare a strong G3-level geomagnetic storm is headed this way, likely hitting Monday through Wednesday night. Solar wind storms of this magnitude increase the chances they'll result in the northern lights farther south into Oregon and its coastline. (Photo of Saturday's solar eruption from SWPC video)

Some exceptionally large coronal mass ejections (CME) happened on September 13 and 14, and their effects are expected Tuesday and Wednesday. It starts off as a G3-level storm in the daylight hours and then at night on Tuesday, but by Wednesday it starts to diminish to below a G2 (moderate) storm.

“CMEs are anticipated to arrive and combine with the +CH HSS, likely increasing conditions to G3 (Strong) storm levels,” the SWPC said. “Lingering CME/CH effects are anticipated to persist into 17 Sep, with G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storm conditions likely, followed by a return to mostly active conditions on 18 Sep as
CME/CH effects diminish.”

CH HSS refers to Coronal Hole High-Speed Stream, meaning the fast-moving solar wind coming from a coronal hole.

This weekend, the SWPC recorded an X4.5 flare from the part of the sun called AR3825. X-flares are the strongest category of CMEs. SWPC called it a somewhat uncommon level of X-flare though “not necessarily unusual.”

Aurora Borealis in Damascus in May - Kelly Misenhimer Smith

You'll want to check the 30-minute aurora borealis forecast before heading out, if you're in areas like Portland, Seattle, Bellingham, La Push, Bandon, Newport or Lincoln City.

The big spoiler, however, will be the full super moon in the skies above even the Washington coast or Oregon coastline. Tuesday is clear for many inland areas like Portland, Eugene or Ashland, but on the coast it will be partly cloudy. That large moon will also interfere if the aurora effects are not prominent enough. Super Moon With Partial Eclipse Tues Above Washington, Oregon, Coast

See Washington Coast Weather - Oregon Coast Weather - Inland Oregon Weather

Wednesday sees skies thicken up on the Oregon coast but with some breaks, though it will be clearer inland.

Bandon in May, courtesy Manuela Durson - see Manuela Durson Fine Arts

You'll likely be better off taking photos with equipment or cellphones designed for night photography rather than counting on seeing it with your eyes.

This won't be your last chance to catch such solar wind action, however. The sun is going through an intensely active period of its ten-year solar flare cycle, firing off some doozies for the next year or so.

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MORE PHOTOS BELOW

Yachats by Jacklyn Larsen Photography: you can see two shooting stars in the upper left top of the curtain (click to enlarge)

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Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast.

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