The aurora is one of the fantastic phenomena that fascinates people. Electrically charged particles called “solar wind” reach the Earth from the sun, and some of them collide with oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere, causing them to glow, creating a curtain of red and green in the night sky.
On November 11th, a large-scale solar flare (an explosive phenomenon that occurs near sunspots on the sun’s surface) occurred, and as a result, auroras were observed in areas where aurorae are normally not visible.
Even in Florida… Widespread in America
The phenomenon in which solar wind is ejected explosively due to large-scale solar flares is called a “solar storm.”
The Space Weather Prediction Center of the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) has designated the solar storm that reached Earth on the 11th and 12th as a G4, and has issued a magnetic storm warning. “G4” is a level where the impact is considered “severe” and is the second from the top of the five levels.
In the United States, people are excited to see the aurora borealis, which they don’t usually see. In North America, aurora borealis were confirmed in Texas, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. They have been observed throughout the East, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio.
An X user posted a photo taken in Texas. The sight of a palm tree standing against the red night sky seems unbalanced and unfamiliar.
On the night of the 13th, aurora borealis appeared across a wide area across the United States.
“It’s coming out perfectly” in Japan as well.
Japan is also affected by the solar storm. People from Hokkaido and even Iwate Prefecture have been posting comments on social media saying, “I saw the aurora!”
According to Weather News, auroras are generally easier to see north of 60 degrees latitude. Exceptionally, those that can be seen from low-latitude areas such as Japan and the southern United States are called “low-latitude auroras.”
When you think of aurora borealis, you get an impression of emerald green, but low latitude aurora are characterized by red light. As a result, many of the photos posted on social media over the past few days are of “bright red night skies.”
Effects of solar flares
Don’t be too optimistic about this solar storm just because you can enjoy the aurora in areas where it is not normally seen.
A G4-level solar storm could disrupt GPS and voltage controls, and cause problems with radio and satellite communications. In addition to impacting communications infrastructure and power grids, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has warned that satellites and astronauts could be at risk.
—fadeinPager—
The Northern Lights have absolutely exploded. The whole northern horizon in central Florida is bright red. On the right is the VAB at @NASAKennedy! #FLwx pic.twitter.com/Wdy7K56zGy
— Nick Stewart (@NStewWX) November 12, 2025
