Millions of Americans could witness the stunning solar light show in different states over the weekend as a higher-strength geomagnetic storm passes overhead.
The effects of a coronal mass ejection—a bubble of plasma that bursts from the sun’s surface—will likely impact Earth’s magnetic field on Saturday, bringing the northern lights to several northern U.S. states, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The agency expects a minor or greater geomagnetic storm—a disturbance of Earth’s magnetic field—on Saturday, which increases the likelihood of northern lights displays being visible to more people, as the effects of a recent coronal mass ejection reach Earth, according to NOAA’s three-day forecast.
The aurora borealis is back and is expected to be visible in more than 10 states. See which states will have the best views.
The colorful northern lights may reveal themselves to South Dakotans Friday night due to an impending solar storm forecast to reach Earth.
A mid-level flare that erupted from the sun on January 22 could bring the northern lights to several US states over the weekend. NASA’s three-day forecast is predicting geomagnetic activity as high as KP 5.33 January 24 and 25, which could mean several US states as well as Canada could be in for a show tonight.
Another display of the northern lights could be visible this weekend in several U.S. states following a severe solar storm. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space Weather Prediction Center forecast a planetary K-index -- which characterizes the magnitude of geomagnetic storms - of five out of a scale of nine for Friday and Saturday,