Well, last night was something else — you just don’t see aurora this far south every day, and the degree to which we saw it was so incredibly rare. The fact that many of you were able to see it with the naked eye speaks well to the strength of the storm: a G5 event, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center, which hasn’t happened since October of 2003.

The geomagnetic storm continues over the weekend. However, it probably peaked last night. G3 conditions are forecast for tonight, which would preclude most of us from seeing aurora unless we were in a dark place with a good view of the northern horizon using a camera with a wide-open aperture. Clouds will not be an issue tonight as fair-weather cumulus will diminish with the loss of daytime heating. If anything, you might want a hoodie if you’re going to go looking! But once again, I want to set expectations very carefully: we just cannot expect a repeat of last night’s display tonight. G5 geomagnetic storms are incredibly rare, and that’s the strength we need for the kind of display we saw yesterday here in the Lowcountry. (It’s not too late to head to the NC mountains, though!)

After a stormy Thursday that, aside from a report of quarter-size hail in Goose Creek, was generally benign for the Charleston metro, a couple more rounds of unsettled weather arrive Friday before a beautiful weekend.