# NOAA- G4 Storm Observed - Sunday April 23, 2023 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 23, 2023, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088 "2023-04-23T23:24:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/21 "2023-04-24T15:06:40Z")
OK, I’m confused. It’s currently about 11:00 AM on the 24th where I am. I didn’t see anything about this until just now. Are people saying that the show was last night and is probably already over, or that it’s expected tonight, in which case I should check the actual sky tonight to see if it’s clearing and if not check the weather forecast to see whether/when it’s expected to? (Current forecast, Finger Lakes New York for anybody who didn’t click on my avatar, is for evening clouds clearing at some point, but when isn’t at all, um, clear yet.) 42º latitude here. > [@wolfpup](#): > > I don’t care about cloud cover now – my big concern is cloud cover during **[the Great North American Total Solar Eclipse](https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2024-april-8)** of April 8 next year! For the first time ever, it will be literally right over my house, although I’m planning to drive further south to a friend’s place where the totality will be longer. With my luck, of course, it will be totally overcast. I haven’t yet figured out whether I’m in the totality zone, or whether the line is a short distance north of me. Will have to do that before the date, so I can decide where to drive to if it’s north. ---
**Author:** ![Ssounder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@Ssounder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ssounder)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/22 "2023-04-24T15:17:19Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Are people saying that the show was last night and is probably already over, or that it’s expected tonight [This might help.](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/aurora-dashboard-experimental) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/23 "2023-04-24T15:22:22Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > I haven’t yet figured out whether I’m in the totality zone, or whether the line is a short distance north of me. Will have to do that before the date, so I can decide where to drive to if it’s north. The map at the site I linked shows the eclipse path; it only lists major cities but there is a search function that gives you data on any specific location. You mentioned Finger Lakes, NY – this is in fact in the path of totality. Of course there are other maps with more detailed location markings. Driving further may let you experience a slightly longer period of totality, but it will also likely let you experience major traffic jams, too! The bad news is that your area, just like mine, shows as experiencing cloudiness about 60% of the time at that time of year! ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/24 "2023-04-24T15:34:41Z")
> [@Ssounder](#): > > This might help. If I translate the time for when that update is – I think that must be GMT. I don’t think it’s in the middle of last night, though; which would have left the answer to ‘which night is “tonight”’ ambiguous. So I think the redder one is tonight – but neither of them show it covering New York State, and the discussion’s about considerably south of here. So to anybody who might have seen it, my question still stands: last night? or this coming night? > [@wolfpup](#): > > You mentioned Finger Lakes, NY – this is in fact in the path of totality. Of course there are other maps with more detailed location markings. That’s a pretty broad area. I’ve seen at least one map that shows the line cutting across the Finger Lakes. I will have to look up a more detailed map by next April, and will do so; I expect they’ll be all over the place by March. – yes, part of the to-drive-or-not-to-drive decision will have to do with traffic, as well as with potential not too crowded places to pull over and get out of the car. – it occurs to me that if I am in the totality zone, I’m in one such place, and might get some traffic; though probably not as much as in places further north; I’d think that anybody who was going to travel long distances would keep going, but maybe relatively local people wanting to avoid traffic might stop a short distance over the line. I will, if I’m not in the totality zone. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/25 "2023-04-24T15:57:37Z")
Almost all of Canada was in the red zone last night, which I haven’t seen happen in four years. So, of course, the skies were completely overcast here. ---
**Author:** ![Ssounder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@Ssounder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ssounder)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/26 "2023-04-24T16:29:16Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > which night is “tonight”’ ambiguous I agree. And I’m reluctant to give any advice based on an “experimental” prediction model. I was hoping that we had a member SME or maybe an enthusiast that could share some insight. So far, crickets… ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/27 "2023-04-24T16:41:51Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > Almost all of Canada was in the red zone last night, which I haven’t seen happen in four years. > > So, of course, the skies were completely overcast here. And here. Having lived in Canada all my life and having never, ever seen northern lights, I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s no such thing and it’s just a nasty joke intended to have fun at the expense of the gullible. I mean, big sections of sky lighting up in mysterious colours – come on! It’s the sort of fable you tell a six-year-old! 😄 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/28 "2023-04-24T18:04:34Z")
The big night was Sunday night. It’s done now on Monday during the day. Or at least the Aurora Monday night & subsequent will be back to its more typical nightly self. Which is often hard to detect from the ground even quite aways up north. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/29 "2023-04-24T19:03:34Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > T OK, thanks. I missed it, then; though am not sure it was clear at the right time. Might take a look tonight if it clears before I go to bed, just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Ssounder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@Ssounder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ssounder)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/30 "2023-04-24T19:41:28Z")
Upon further review, If you look at the clock on the upper right on the [dashboard](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/aurora-dashboard-experimental), it’s running in real-time UTC. Compare it to the creation date in tonight’s view line image. The times are only a bit off. Refreshing the page reduces this difference and is evidence that it is being updated in real-time UTC. IMO it stands to reason that there will be an opportunity to view it _tonight_ if you live within the view line and the sky is clear. I fall in that red view line as well as Finger Lakes. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2023, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/31 "2023-04-24T21:16:38Z")
Sky at moment is quite cloudy. Weather report now expects it to stay that way; but I’ll try to take a look, just in case. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/32 "2023-04-25T00:40:42Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Having lived in Canada all my life and having never, ever seen northern lights How is that possible? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/33 "2023-04-25T01:11:00Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > How is that possible? Heck, Windsor Ontario is further south than all of Wisconsin is, so someone from that region could go their whole lives without seeing it. I’ve made a point of trying to see it from N43.6 Lat and only managed it 3 times, thanks to having darker than average skies by me. ---
**Author:** ![Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/77aa72/32.png) [@Fluffy\_PickleSniffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fluffy_PickleSniffer)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/34 "2023-04-25T01:18:14Z")
I never saw anything last night - clouds moved in pretty solid by 10pm and never let up. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ssounder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@Ssounder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ssounder)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/35 "2023-04-25T01:20:23Z")
Oh crap. I’m on the 46th parallel. 😵‍💫 ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/36 "2023-04-25T22:21:02Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Heck, Windsor Ontario is further south than all of Wisconsin is, so someone from that region could go their whole lives without seeing it. Windsor is actually due south of Detroit. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/37 "2023-04-25T22:36:31Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Windsor is actually due south of Detroit. And southeast of all of Wisconsin! ;-D ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/38 "2023-04-25T23:00:09Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > > [@wolfpup](#): > > > > Having lived in Canada all my life and having never, ever seen northern lights > > How is that possible? Probably some combination of bad luck, and the fact that, being allergic to cold, I am one of millions of Canadians who huddle together for warmth as far south as possible, in the more temperate east and west areas of our magnificent but chilly land. You will recall my famous story of visiting Saskatoon once in the depths of winter for a business meeting, protected only by a light spring overcoat. The short walk from my hotel to the office building the next morning, which I expected to be perhaps a bit brisk because it was, after all, winter in Saskatoon, turned out to be a near-death experience in which I might well have been frozen solid and turned into an icicle-like statue, immobilized until spring. And that, my kanevvluk-loving friend, is why I have never seen the northern lights. 😉 P.S.- I genuinely love Saskatchewan winters if you’re dressed for it – they are clean, crisp, dry, and beautiful. But I have to stress that “dressed for it” does NOT mean a light spring overcoat – it means consulting with NASA for the proper protective attire. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/39 "2023-04-26T01:39:34Z")
I find General Motors products are better protective attire than NASA’s. Better creature comforts and far less expensive. Better sound too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2023, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088/40 "2023-04-26T06:09:33Z")
Yesterday’s Astronomy Picture of the Day showed a very pretty example of this – **Northern Lights over Southern Europe** (See [APOD: 2023 April 25 – Northern Lights over Southern Europe](https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230425.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/noaa-g4-storm-observed-sunday-april-23-2023/983088.md?page=1)