Northern lights shine over Lewes Beach
The northern lights put on a vibrant show in Lewes over the Delaware Bay Nov. 11, with the sky above Savannah Beach turning shades of pink, red and green.
The aurora could come back even stronger Wednesday, Nov. 12, according to forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The northern lights are visible due to a severe geomagnetic storm currently impacting earth. On Tuesday, they were seen as far south as Alabama and Florida.
Over the past few days, there have been several coronal mass ejections, which are basically giant bubbles of plasma that sometimes erupt from the sun’s atmosphere. When the earth is in a CME’s path, it can create vibrant auroras.
NOAA issued several geomagnetic storm watches for this week, including a G4, or severe, watch for Nov. 12. The highest level is G5, which is considered extreme.
There was a G2, or moderate, watch in effect Nov. 11, and there is a G3, or strong, watch in effect for Thursday, Nov. 13.
Effects are expected to continue into Friday, Nov. 14.
Ellen McIntyre is a reporter covering education and all things Dewey Beach. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Penn State - Schreyer Honors College in May 2024, then completed an internship writing for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In 2023, she covered the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand as a freelancer for the Associated Press and saw her work published by outlets including The Washington Post and Fox Sports. Her variety of reporting experience covers crime and courts, investigations, politics and the arts. As a Hockessin, Delaware native, Ellen is happy to be back in her home state, though she enjoys traveling and learning about new cultures. She also loves live music, reading, hiking and spending time in nature.
