Residents in Northern California witnessed the rare aurora borealis, lighting up skies from North Natomas to Modoc County.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Areas of Northern California have spotted an aurora borealis, a natural and colorful light display in the Earth’s sky, also known as the northern lights.
A North Natomas resident caught a glimpse of the lights. He sent ABC10 a photo that shows a light red sky.
Modoc County is another area in Northern California where the northern lights were seen. An Alert California camera in the county captured a view of the aurora in the sky.
Forecasters issued a severe G4 geomagnetic storm watch for Tuesday, Nov. 11 and Wednesday, Nov. 12.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space Weather Prediction Center said a severe geomagnetic storm is a major disturbance in the Earth’s magnetic field. The intensity can vary between lower levels and severe storm conditions over the entire event, the NOAA said.
The G4 storm watch comes after a coronal mass ejection (CME), an eruption of solar material and magnetic fields from the Earth’s surface. CMEs usually generate displays of aurora borealis in the northern half of the United States, according to NOAA.
G4-level watches are rare, as only four alerts have been issued so far this solar cycle, according to NOAA.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10 | California Weather: Aurora Borealis Watch
