Northern Lights might light up the skies over parts of the northern United States this Thanksgiving and Black Friday, thanks to geomagnetic storm conditions caused by solar activity. NOAA’s space weather experts say charged particles from the Sun will likely trigger this celestial phenomenon.
The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) of NOAA observed a coronal mass ejection (CME)—a burst of solar material—departing from the Sun on Monday. They have issued a G1 (minor) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Thursday and a G2 (moderate) watch for Friday, when the CME is expected to reach Earth.
Solar storms are rated on a scale from G1 to G5, with G5 being the most intense and rare. The interaction between the charged particles and Earth’s magnetic field often produces the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. During G1 and G2 storms, these displays are typically visible at higher latitudes, including U.S. regions such as Maine and northern Michigan.
The SWPC notes that Northern Lights could potentially be seen on Friday across some northern states and the Upper Midwest.
To enhance visibility, viewers are advised to find locations away from light pollution, such as areas far from city lights.
While the auroras are a stunning spectacle, moderate geomagnetic storms like the one forecasted can also cause minor power grid fluctuations and increase drag on satellites in low-Earth orbit.
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