NOAA forecasters say there is an 80% chance of minor G1-class geomagnetic storms on Tuesday September 11th 2018 when a stream of solar wind is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. 

The gaseous material is flowing from a canyon-shaped hole in the sun's atmosphere, shown below in an extreme UV image taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory

There's a chance that the storm could intensify to category G2 (moderately strong). During G2-Class storms, auroras can appear much further south over Ireland, Scotland, England & Wales.

The possibility of a G2 storm hinges on a CIR (co-rotating interaction region) at the leading edge of the incoming solar wind stream. CIRs are transition zones in the solar wind where slow-moving gas suddenly speeds up. They have shock-like characteristics and often do a good job sparking geomagnetic activity when they hit Earth's magnetic field. NOAA analysts believe that a CIR is leading this solar wind stream, and so they have issued a G2 storm watch.

G2 (MODERATE) GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH ISSUED FOR 11 SEP

WEATHER FORECAST FOR TUESDAY NIGHT IRELAND 

Late Tuesday evening and over night rain will move in from the southwest of Ireland spreading over Munster and south/Mid Leinster. For southern areas of Connacht rain will also be possible over night before clearing after midnight into early Wednesday morning. Across Ulster and the rest of Connacht there will be a lot of dry weather as the rain doesn't make it that far. Some showers will be possible over Ulster and Connacht but good dry periods too.

Current indications show clear spells moving in from the northwest around midnight which would be good if you want to go Aurora hunting.

Areas with the best chance will be Ulster and Connacht around midnight into the early hours of Wednesday morning if the solar storm does manage to kick into a G1 or G2 storming.

Below I have attached the latest cloud forecast from the ECMWF model which shows clear spells over Ulster and Connacht around mid night Tuesday into Wednesday morning.

The current GFS model run also shows clear spells moving in from the northwest overnight into Wednesday morning.

MOON PHASE

On Tuesday night the moon phase will on have a Illumination: 4% which will not effect any display and sets after sunset.

Waxing Crescent is the first Phase after the New Moon and is a great time to see the features of the moon's surface. During this phase the Moon can be seen in the wester sky after the sun dips below the horizon at sunset. The moon is close to the sun in the sky and mostly dark except for the right edge of the moon which becomes brighter as the days get closer to the next phase which is a First Quarter with a 50% illumination.

• Remember to stay warm if out aurora hunting.

• Beware of your surroundings.

• Wrap up well

• Stay away from light polluted areas.

• Get somewhere with a good view northwards.

• Its Ireland so always make sure you stay dry

• Hot drinks are always good if your gonna spend long periods out

• Flash lights

• Let your eye adapt to the night sky

• Always carry a phone and let someone know where you will be

• If photographing iso setting of around 800 to 1600 are good with at F3.5 (18mm 55mm lens)

• Don,t go out and expect them to be just there as they don't work like that, Its a waiting game sometimes depending on the display and weather.

• The Aurora may look like a white glow on the horizon depending on the strength of the solar storm. If it is a strong solar storm then colours are also visible espically if it goes into out bursts with rays.

• The magnetic field also play a big factor on how far south the aurora comes and has the nickname of BZ. If you here the BZ is dropping then that is good.

• KP really means nothing you can have a high KP number and see noting.

• Main factors to a aurora display is Bz, Proton density, IMF and solar wind speed.

Kenneth from the Donegal Weather Channel

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