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Northern Lights Alert: Rare Display Expected Across U.S. This Week
Get ready to look up! A powerful geomagnetic storm that hit our planet on Sunday could treat skygazers to a spectacular, and unusually widespread, display of the Northern Lights tonight and tomorrow.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a “severe” geomagnetic storm watch for Tuesday as the full impact of Sunday’s coronal mass ejection (CME) is expected to reach Earth. A CME is essentially a giant burst of solar material and magnetic fields from the sun’s outer atmosphere. When these bursts interact with Earth’s magnetic field, they can create the stunning aurora borealis.
What makes this event particularly exciting is the potential for the Northern Lights to be visible much further south than usual. NOAA indicates that states as far south as Alabama and California might catch a glimpse of the vibrant celestial show.
While the solar flare could begin impacting Earth as early as Monday night, the best viewing opportunities are expected to be on Tuesday. The conditions that make the Northern Lights visible are likely to weaken by late Tuesday, though minor geomagnetic effects could linger into Wednesday.
NOAA forecasters expressed “fair measure of confidence in timing and of CME arrival at Earth,” meaning they’re pretty sure this cosmic light show is on its way.
Of course, a few factors will determine just how well you’ll be able to see the aurora, including local cloud cover and how the solar flare ultimately interacts with our planet’s upper atmosphere.
Sunday’s geomagnetic storm was rated as a G4, which is the second-highest rating on the scale. Storms of this magnitude can sometimes cause minor disruptions to satellite navigation and low-frequency radio systems, but for most of us, the main impact will be a breathtaking view in the night sky. So, keep an eye on the forecast and be ready to step outside!