Blacksburg, Va. – Virginia skies could put on a rare light show tonight as the Northern Lights may become visible into Tuesday morning. Residents across Montgomery County are urged to step outside after sunset, as clear skies could allow the aurora to ripple across the horizon. Drivers on I-81 should prepare for patchy fog before sunrise, reducing visibility and creating early travel hazards.
According to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, a coronal mass ejection is striking Earth’s atmosphere, sparking geomagnetic storm conditions through Tuesday. This means skies from Virginia west to Colorado and north into New England may glow with aurora if clouds stay clear. Locally, the best chance for viewing in Blacksburg comes after midnight, when skies stay mostly clear and calm.
Daytime weather brings patchy fog before 7 a.m. Tuesday, followed by sunshine and highs near 75. Winds remain light, keeping conditions stable for both morning commuters and students returning to class. By Wednesday afternoon, however, scattered thunderstorms may develop, with stronger storms possible by evening and showers lingering into Thursday…