Aurora Forecast: Northern Lights Visible Across the US
The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center reports an ongoing strong geomagnetic storm that is likely to make the aurora borealis, or northern lights, visible across the northern United States and possibly some central states on Thursday and Friday.
Geographic Range of Visibility
According to NOAA's forecast, the best chance to see the northern lights extends from New York in the east to Washington state in the west. The viewing area also reaches as far south as Wyoming, Nebraska, and Iowa.
Factors Affecting Visibility
Visibility depends largely on the storm’s intensity and weather conditions. The clearer the night sky and the stronger the geomagnetic storm, the higher the likelihood that the northern lights will be seen.
Details of the Geomagnetic Storm
The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center announced early Thursday morning that a "G3" geomagnetic storm, classified as moderate, was underway. "The scale runs from G1, minor, to G5, extreme," NOAA explained. "This is a larger disturbance in Earth's magnetic field. It can vary in intensity between lower levels and strong storm conditions over hours to a day during the event duration."
Impact Beyond the Lights
Strong geomagnetic storms like this can disrupt technology, potentially causing power grid fluctuations and satellite interference, which may affect GPS systems.
Author's summary: A strong geomagnetic storm is causing northern lights to appear across much of the US, with visibility dependent on storm strength and clear skies, while also posing risks to power and satellite systems.