A powerful geomagnetic storm can disrupt GPS and the power grid like Hurricane Milton. It may also give us the northern lights

A powerful storm forecast through Friday could light up the night sky over much of the northern part of the country, bringing power grid disruptions, GPS and radio outages, and satellites being affected, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA).

This is especially troubling as it comes a day after Hurricane Milton is forecast to hit southwest Florida, potentially knocking out power, affecting cell service, and affecting other calls needed in recovery efforts.

NOAA warned a G4 storm (4 out of 5 on the NOAA scale) could cause widespread power control problems, and that the spacecraft could have tracking problems and satellite navigation could be disrupted for hours.

Meanwhile, NYC Emergency Management said the power outages are unlikely, but possible in New York.

NOAA also predicted that the aurora borealis, or northern lights, could be seen in the northern US states like northern Michigan and Maine and as far south as Alabama and California on Thursday, possibly Friday.

If this sounds familiar, you’re right: Over the weekend, a powerful G3 solar storm caused a full display of dazzling aurora for millions of Americans from the northern Midwest to Oregon.

A geomagnetic storm occurs when a coronal mass ejection, an explosion of solar and magnetic material, reaches Earth.

You can track the aurora on the NOAA page, where the agency provides updates.