Aurora Forecast: Northern Lights Visible Across the US
The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center reports a strong geomagnetic storm currently underway, increasing the chances of seeing the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, across much of the northern United States.
Areas with High Likelihood of Sightings
The northern lights are expected to be visible from New York in the east to Washington state in the west. The phenomenon may also be seen as far south as Wyoming, Nebraska, and Iowa, according to NOAA's forecast map.
Conditions Affecting Visibility
Visibility depends heavily on the storm’s strength and local weather conditions. Clear skies and a powerful geomagnetic storm increase the chance of witnessing this natural light display.
Current Geomagnetic Storm Status
“A G3 geomagnetic storm is now in progress,” the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center stated early Thursday. On a scale from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme), G3 indicates a sizable disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field that can fluctuate in intensity over hours or a day.
“It can vary in intensity between lower levels and strong storm conditions over the course of hours to a day during the event duration,” NOAA explained in its Geomagnetic Storm Alert.
Potential Impact on Technology
Besides enhancing aurora visibility, strong geomagnetic storms can disrupt technology, causing fluctuations in power grids and satellite interference that may affect GPS services.
“Strong geomagnetic storms can also cause problems with technology, such as fluctuations in the power grid and interference with satellites, which can affect GPS,” the alert noted.
Summary: A significant geomagnetic storm is increasing the chances of aurora borealis sightings across the northern US, with potential impacts on technology and visibility depending on conditions.