Northern U.S. States May Have the Chance to See the Northern Lights Sunday
Northern U.S. states from New York to Washington, and potentially into Iowa, may have the opportunity to witness the mesmerizing spectacle of the northern lights on Sunday, according to current forecasts. The Space Weather Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued an alert on Sunday morning, warning of a moderate geomagnetic storm caused by an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME).
CMEs are explosive releases of plasma and magnetic material from the sun that can have an impact on Earth’s navigation, communication, and radio signals. They also have the ability to create the auroras by generating currents in Earth’s magnetic fields, which then interact with oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere.
The current Earth-directed CME was triggered by a filament eruption on Friday, as reported by the Space Weather Prediction Center. It is expected to reach Earth late Sunday, resulting in G1-level geomagnetic storms (the lowest level on the five-point scale). G2 storms are anticipated for Monday.
According to the current forecast by NOAA, Canada and Alaska have the highest likelihood of seeing the northern lights on Sunday. The southern extent of the auroras could extend as far south as northern Nebraska and central Iowa, potentially giving residents in several states including Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine a chance to witness this natural phenomenon.
However, the forecast for Monday is not as promising, with limited opportunities for those in northern Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to see the northern lights. Monday’s geomagnetic storms are expected to be stronger.
In addition to the Earth-directed CME, a coronal hole high-speed stream (CH HSS) was also observed on the sun on Friday. CH HSSs can cause geomagnetic storms on Earth, similar to CMEs, reaching G1 or G2 levels, which could potentially spark more northern lights.
Further prospects for observing the northern lights will be available in the coming months, as the sun approaches the peak of Solar Cycle 25. This 11-year period is characterized by the sun reversing its magnetic poles, resulting in increased space weather activities such as CMEs and CH HSSs. New forecasts indicate that this peak period, which was previously projected to occur from January to October next year, could arrive sooner and be stronger than anticipated. This could lead to more opportunities for witnessing the northern lights, even for those in the southern U.S.
It is important to note that while the northern lights provide a stunning display, they can also have impacts on infrastructure. The Space Weather Prediction Center will be closely monitoring the situation over the next few days.
As a bonus, the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, will occur near the peak of Solar Cycle 25, promising a captivating spectacle for skywatchers.
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