Aurora Australis arrives in the upper North Island

The strongest solar storm in 2 years has delivered the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) to much of New Zealand including the upper North Island. The major solar storm penetrated earth's magnetosphere reaching K7 (G3 storm level), which was not forecast by any of the space weather agencies. It is associated with a solar eruption from 9 May which was only forecast to have a minor effect on earth during this period. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology currently has a warning in place.

More information about Space weather can be found at our page tab Space

St Clair beach Dunedin 3:14am 13 May credit Andrew Clark

Kp indices showing the sudden surge around 3am NZT 13 May 2021

Time lapse over 3 hours from Tunnel Beach, Dunedin