A severe solar storm may trigger northern lights in New England this week, and as far south in the U.S. as the lower Midwest and Northern California, according to U.S. space weather forecasters.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a severe geomagnetic storm watch on Wednesday for Thursday into Friday after an outburst from the sun was detected earlier this week. Such a storm could temporarily disrupt power and radio signals, along with producing aurora.

Exact locations and times of the northern lights are uncertain, according to NOAA. Skygazers are reminded to point their smartphones upward for photos; the devices often can capture auroras that human eyes cannot.

Forecasters do not expect the latest solar storm to surpass the one that slammed Earth in May, the strongest in more than two decades. But they won’t know for sure until it’s just 1 million miles away, where spacecraft can measure it.

May’s solar storm produced dazzling auroras across the Northern Hemisphere, and aurora have occasionally been visible in the skies over New England since.

A powerful solar storm could disrupt power and communications, but also made the aurora borealis visible much farther south than usual. Pete Bouchard explains.

The sun is near the peak of its current 11-year cycle, sparking the recent solar activity.

May’s storm resulted in no major disruptions, but the coming could stress power grids even more as the U.S. deals with major back-to-back hurricanes, the Space Weather Prediction Center warned Wednesday.

NOAA has notified operators of power plants and orbiting spacecraft to take precautions. It also alerted the Federal Emergency Management Agency about possible power disruptions, as the organization copes with the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene and gears up for Hurricane Milton barreling across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida.

A fast CME erupted from the Sun the evening of 8 Oct and is likely to arrive at Earth on 10 Oct. This CME has been analyzed and there is potential to reach G4 levels upon arrival and throughout CME passage. Visit https://t.co/89xOZCTfxh for the full story. pic.twitter.com/WpjSvmOxSS

— NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) October 9, 2024

S3 (Strong) solar radiation storm conditions were reached the morning of 9 October (Eastern time zone). Storm conditions of at least S1-S2 (Minor-Moderate) are likely to continue into 10-11 October. Visit https://t.co/YLUbTRMxS6 for more information. pic.twitter.com/Y6lAgfcQty

— NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) October 9, 2024

Florida is far enough south to avoid any power disruptions from the solar surge unless it gets a lot bigger, said scientist Rob Steenburgh of NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.

“That adds a little bit more to the comfort level,” Steenburgh said. “Why we’re here is to let them know so that they can prepare.”

Experts are more concerned about potential effects to the power grids in areas slammed by Hurricane Helene two weeks ago, said NOAA space weather forecaster Shawn Dahl.

In New England, power grid operator ISO New England always monitors solar activity, and can activate procedures to protect equipments.

“These measures may involve adjusting generator outputs, coordinating with transmission operators to stop maintenance work when possible, and manage the amount of electricity that flows on transmission lines,” an ISO New England representative said.

A former sheriff of Strafford County, N.H., already facing felony charges for his alleged misuse of public funds and botched cover-up has been slapped with new criminal charges as prosecutors turn up the pressure amid stalled plea negotiations.

Mark A. Brave, 39, resigned late last year and was indicted on eight felony counts of theft, falsifying physical evidence, and perjury. The original indictment accused him of spending $19,000 on personal travel and meet-ups with romantic partners, filing false documents for reimbursement, and lying to a grand jury.

The new indictment, returned by a grand jury in Rockingham County, adds two more felony counts of perjury, two misdemeanor counts of false swearing, and one misdemeanor count of unsworn falsification, the New Hampshire Department of Justice announced Wednesday.

While this five-count indictment is new, its allegations date back to October 2023 when Brave told the court he was residing with his soon-to-be ex-wife in Dover, N.H. Prosecutors said in November he was actually living in Tewksbury, Mass., in violation of his bail conditions and the residency requirement for his job as sheriff. (He now has the court’s permission to live out of state while awaiting trial.)

The perjury charges are based on allegations that Brave gave the court a false residential address while under oath and made false statements on the form he filled out to request a court-appointed attorney, according to court records.

Brave said last fall that he couldn’t afford to hire his own attorney, so a judge briefly appointed one for him. But prosecutors said they learned Brave had paid more than $53,000 up front for a 12-month lease shortly before asking for a lawyer at taxpayer expense. Brave then had to hire his own defense attorney.

Brave and his attorney, Leif A. Becker, negotiated with prosecutors unsuccessfully over a possible plea deal. It’s unclear what the terms of any potential deal might entail. Details from a private mediation process with a retired judge are sealed. One thing is clear: No deal was reached.

Becker said in a text message Wednesday the new charges are not a surprise.

”That being said we are still hopeful that this case resolves without the need for a trial at the taxpayers expense,” he said, noting the parties have tentatively picked trial dates for early next year.

Prosecutors gave signs they could pursue this additional indictment. Assistant Attorney General Joe M. Fincham II told the judge in open court last month that more charges were possible.

An arraignment on the new charges is slated for Nov. 27, according to court records.

The perjury charges in the original indictment allege Brave lied about several situations in 2022 and 2023, including trips he took to Florida, Maryland, and Boston.

Brave initially said a male deputy had joined him on the trip to Florida, but investigators determined a female employee had traveled with him and shared a hotel room, according to court records.

Brave told the Globe their trip to Fort Lauderdale was for “work-related research” for a new job title he planned to create. By his own account, however, the research was haphazard and cost-ineffective.

For the Maryland trip, Brave is accused of lying about a meeting he supposedly scheduled with Representative Chris Pappas, a Manchester Democrat. Brave said the meeting was canceled at the last minute, but the congressman’s office said it had no record of any meeting ever being on the calendar, according to court records. Prosecutors allege Brave actually met up with a paramour on that trip.

For the Boston trip, Brave claimed he had purchased two dinner cruise tickets for himself and the same male deputy who had supposedly joined him in Florida, but investigators concluded he celebrated the birthday of a romantic interest who then stayed at a hotel with him.

When the allegations first became public, Brave resisted calls to step aside, but he placed himself on paid administrative leave after fellow officials gave him an ultimatum to do so or be ousted.

The most serious charge in the indictment, theft by deception, is a Class A felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The other felony charges are Class B felonies punishable by up to seven years in prison.

Brave’s dishonesty has gotten him into trouble unrelated to his pending criminal prosecution.

An investigation by The Boston Globe revealed in September 2023 that Brave had exaggerated the length of his law enforcement experience and falsely claimed to hold two college degrees when he had none. He insisted at the time that he hadn’t intended to deceive anyone.

An investigation commissioned by Strafford County officials found reason to question Brave’s candor concerning the circumstances of his wife’s drunken driving arrest in December 2022. Some officials said he led them to believe he was at home when, in fact, he was by her side and too drunk to drive himself home.

Brave, a Democrat who was elected the first Black sheriff in New Hampshire history in 2020, has maintained his innocence, contending that state and county officials have carried out a racist and politically motivated plot against him.

Fellow Democrats dispute that claim.

George M. Maglaras, who chairs Strafford County’s three-member board of commissioners, said he had previously supported Brave’s candidacy, and the allegations have nothing to do with his race.

“He fooled a lot of people, including myself,” Maglaras said.

Brave’s successor, Joseph T. McGivern, who had served as his chief deputy, stepped in as acting sheriff then was appointed sheriff in March. McGivern will hold that title until his 70th birthday on Oct. 24, when he will become constitutionally ineligible because of his age.

Voters will pick McGivern’s successor, either Democrat Kathryn Mone or Republican Scott Tingle, in the Nov. 5 election.

Steven Porter can be reached at steven.porter@globe.com. Follow him @reporterporter.

CONTACT:
Andy Timmins: (603) 271-1742
October 9, 2024

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department reminds hunters that the Granite State’s 7-day fall turkey shotgun season begins on October 14 and runs through October 20, 2024. Of the 18 New Hampshire Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) in the state, 10 are open to the fall shotgun season including D2, G, H1, H2, I1, I2, J2, K, L, and M. Additionally, New Hampshire offers a fall archery season for turkey from September 15 through December 15 in WMUs B through M (ends December 8 in WMU A).

“The fall turkey harvest is very dependent on turkey nesting success the previous spring and the distribution and abundance of fall foods,” said Andrew Timmins, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Game Program Supervisor. Due to the dry, warm spring and summer, poult to hen ratios were higher this year compared with the recent past, resulting in more young turkeys maturing into the fall population. The ability to locate fall turkeys will be very dependent on fall foods. When hard mast crops such as acorns are absent in the woods, turkeys spend more time in fields where they are easier to locate and target. During years with abundant acorns and beechnuts, turkeys spend the majority of their time in secluded woodlands. As a result, harvest rates of turkeys during the fall decline when hard mast is more abundant. Beechnuts seem nearly nonexistent this fall but there are acorns in some locations. The crop appears very spotty, but scouting and time in the woods should enable hunters to find localized pockets of acorns.”

The purchase of a turkey permit, and a New Hampshire hunting license for those ages 16 or older, allows for the harvest of two turkeys per year, one of which may be a male or a hen turkey taken during the fall.

Shooting hours for the fall season begin one-half hour before sunrise and end one-half hour after sunset. All New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFG) rules and regulations associated with the state’s fall turkey season remain in effect, and hunters will continue to have the option of registering harvested birds either in person or online. Regardless of registration method, the tag that is issued with the hunter’s turkey license must be affixed to the bird and hunters must register their turkey within 24 hours of harvest.

Check Station Registration: New Hampshire Fish and Game works with many registration stations statewide to provide locations for hunters to register their birds. It is recommended that hunters contact their local registration stations to determine their hours of operation. For a list of registration locations in New Hampshire visit: www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/check-stations-registration.

Online Registration: If birds are not registered in person, they must be registered online within 24 hours of take. To expedite online registration, hunters must have a reliable internet connection and the following information readily available:

• Hunting/turkey license information
• License plate number of the vehicle used while hunting
• Town and Wildlife Management Unit where the turkey was harvested
• Sex of the bird
• Age of the bird (adult vs. juvenile)
• Weight of the bird (to the nearest 1/4 pound)
• Beard length (to the nearest 1/4 inch)
• Spur lengths (to the nearest 1/16 inch)

Successful registration, whether in person or online, will result in the generation of a confirmation number upon completion. Hunters must retain a copy of this confirmation as proof that their turkey was legally registered by saving a digital or printed version for their records. Accurately entered registration data is imperative because the information is used by wildlife biologists and Conservation Officers who depend on its accuracy. To register turkeys online, and for tips on how to age, weigh, and measure birds, visit www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/turkey-hunting-new-hampshire.

Fall is a popular time for many outdoor enthusiasts. Hunters must always be aware of other people sharing the outdoors and be absolutely sure of their target and what lies beyond.

To learn more about turkey hunting in New Hampshire, visit www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/turkey-hunting-new-hampshire.

Wild turkey management is funded, in part, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife Restoration Program.