The Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a strong (G3) watch for geomagnetic storms early to midday December 9. That means our main focus will be Monday night.
At G3 conditions, auroras can trickle into the mid-latitudes, making it possible we get some color in the Rochester skies.
However, the trouble comes with the exact timing of the geomagnetic storm. If this coronal mass ejection (CME) delays its arrival, the sun may already be up for the day, killing our chances of seeing any auroras.
Another issue frequently encountered with aurora viewing is cloudiness. As the night progresses and December 8 turns to December 9, our cloud cover will be thickening in advance of a low-pressure system set to bring Tuesday PM snow showers. This makes our window of opportunity even smaller.
So, this isn’t the best recipe for aurora viewing, but if you’re awake in the very early AM hours, it may be worth taking a look to the northern horizon…