Aurora Forecast: Northern Lights Expected Across the US
The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center reports an ongoing strong geomagnetic storm. This event brings a high chance to see the aurora borealis, or northern lights, across much of the northern United States and even into some central states during Thursday and Friday.
Visibility Range
The best chances for spotting the northern lights stretch from New York in the east to Washington state in the west. The viewing area extends as far south as Wyoming, Nebraska, and Iowa, based on a NOAA forecast map.
Factors Affecting Viewing
- Strength of the geomagnetic storm
- Clarity of the night sky
The stronger the storm and the clearer the conditions, the more likely the northern lights will be visible.
Storm Classification
As of early Thursday morning, NOAA classified the storm as a "G3" geomagnetic storm. On the NOAA scale, storms range from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme).
"A larger disturbance in Earth's magnetic field. It can vary in intensity between lower levels and strong storm conditions over the course of hours to a day during the event duration."
Additional Impacts
Aside from the northern lights visibility, strong geomagnetic storms can disrupt technology, including:
- Fluctuations in the power grid
- Satellite interference affecting GPS signals
Summary
The ongoing strong geomagnetic storm is creating an excellent opportunity to see the northern lights across many northern and central US states, while also posing potential technological disruptions.