A significant geomagnetic storm triggered by a full-halo coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun is set to impact Earth early to midday on Tuesday, potentially making the Northern Lights visible across large portions of the northern United States.
What To Know
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) announced the event following an M8.1-class solar flare, cautioning that periods of G3 geomagnetic storming are likely during this period.
The expected strong geomagnetic storm comes amid heightened solar activity at the peak of the sun’s 11-year cycle.
Beyond the spectacle, this storm may disrupt technology, including communications networks, power grids, and GPS satellites, highlighting vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure to extreme space weather events.
Based on NOAA predictions and the OVATION aurora model, residents in Alaska and the northernmost sections of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire may have the best chances to witness the aurora on Tuesday night.
Sightings are most likely in dark, rural areas far from city lights, and are best viewed facing the northern horizon after sunset and before sunrise.
To observe the aurora, NOAA and space weather experts recommend seeking a north-facing vantage point away from artificial lighting, letting eyes adjust to the dark, and monitoring forecast updates for real-time adjustments.
Phone cameras can enhance faint aurora colors that might not be immediately visible to the naked eye. Skies must be clear, as cloud cover will diminish visibility; local weather should be checked before heading out.
The same geomagnetic storm that makes aurora sightings likely can disrupt power systems, navigation signals, and satellite functions due to heightened currents in Earth’s upper atmosphere and magnetic field changes.
The NOAA NWS SWPC advised the public to remain vigilant regarding possible outages or disruptions between Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Geminid meteor shower, peaking on December 13 and 14, overlaps with the ongoing period of increased solar and auroral activity. Skywatchers may enjoy dual spectacles of meteors and auroras in minimally lit areas.
What People Are Saying
NOAA NWS SWPC said on its website: “Geomagnetic storms create large disturbances in the ionosphere. The currents and energy introduced by a geomagnetic storm enhance the ionosphere and increase the total height-integrated number of ionospheric electrons, or the Total Electron Count (TEC). GPS systems cannot correctly model this dynamic enhancement and errors are introduced into the position calculations. This usually occurs at high latitudes, though major storms can produce large TEC enhancements at mid-latitudes as well.”
What Happens Next?
The NOAA SWPC continues to monitor solar and geomagnetic conditions and will provide real-time updates about the CME impact and ensuing auroral activity.
Ongoing observations will determine how far south the auroras will be visible and whether any adverse effects on technology materialize.
Residents and operators are encouraged to maintain awareness via official NOAA communication channels and aurora forecast apps.