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- Northern Lights possible in Midwest, northern US on Labor Day after blast from Sun triggers geomagnetic storm (foxweather.com)
Get Ready for a Dazzling Labor Day Light Show! Northern Lights Expected to Dance Across the Midwest
A spectacular display of the Northern Lights is expected to grace the skies as far south as the Midwest this Labor Day, thanks to a powerful eruption from the sun. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) issued a Geomagnetic Storm Watch through Tuesday following a full-halo coronal mass ejection (CME) observed on Saturday.
This solar phenomenon, captured by NOAA and NASA satellites, involves a ring-like expulsion of charged energy traveling at an incredible 2 million mph. Unlike standard CMEs originating from a specific area on the sun, full-halo CMEs, like Saturday’s, typically result in geomagnetic storms upon reaching Earth.
While these storms can sometimes cause disruptions to technology like power grids, satellite operations, and GPS, the SWPC has already alerted infrastructure operators. The CME’s impact is anticipated between Monday evening and Tuesday morning, East Coast time.
NOAA’s GOES satellites observed the CME’s shock front, the leading edge, arriving around 5 p.m. EDT Monday.
The main body of the CME arrived shortly thereafter.
The SWPC predicts Level 1 and 2 geomagnetic storms (on a scale of 1 to 5) late Monday, intensifying to potentially strong Level 3 and even severe Level 4 storms as the CME’s magnetic core arrives. Early Tuesday, the geomagnetic storm scale could reach 6.67 out of 9, potentially pushing the aurora displays as far south as Wyoming if the level reaches 7.
Prime viewing time for the aurora is expected to be early Tuesday morning. For the best experience, seek locations away from city lights and light pollution, under clear skies.
The Northeast, Great Lakes, and Northwest are forecast to have favorable viewing conditions. Even under moderate cloud cover, capturing the lights might be possible with smartphone night mode or long-exposure camera shots, ideally with a tripod.