Northern Lights Expected Over Iowa Thursday Night
The northern lights are forecasted to return to Iowa skies Thursday evening, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center.
Visibility Across the United States
The forecast shows a strong chance that the northern lights will be visible across the northern United States. NOAA describes auroras as:
“beautiful light curtains formed when energetic particles from the sun strike the atmosphere.”
Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis
Known as the aurora borealis, these lights appear in the northern hemisphere. A similar phenomenon called the aurora australis occurs in the southern hemisphere.
Forecast for Iowa
The view line for the northern lights will cross near Iowa's southern border, but residents in the northern part of the state are likely to have a better chance to see the aurora on Thursday.
Weather Conditions Impacting Visibility
- Much of Iowa will be cloudy around 9 p.m., especially in Des Moines, with approximately 94% cloud cover.
- The clearest skies will be found along the western border of the state.
- Clouds are expected to decrease overnight, with Des Moines dropping to 31% cloud cover by midnight.
Additional Factors
Thursday night's moon will be a waning gibbous with 98% illumination, which could reduce the visibility of the aurora borealis.
Summary: Iowans may glimpse the northern lights Thursday, but visibility will vary due to cloud cover and a bright waning gibbous moon.