Latest news with #geomagneticstorm
Forbes
13 hours ago
- Climate
- Forbes
The Northern Lights Could Be Visible On Sunday—Here's Where They Could Appear
The northern lights have a moderate chance of appearing in parts of the Upper Midwest, Great Plains and Alaska on Sunday night into Monday morning—but they could appear even brighter the next night as geomagnetic storms increase the likelihood of aurora formation. Minor geomagnetic storms could cause the lights to appear in the northern U.S. Getty Images Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict a Kp index of three out of nine, meaning the aurora will move further from the poles and appear brighter with more motions and formations. Minor geomagnetic storms are driving the Kp index higher, NOAA said, with the Kp index briefly reaching as high as six in the last 24 hours. In the Midwest, northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula could all see aurora formation Sunday night, according to NOAA's forecast. Most of North Dakota, Alaska and a large portion of Montana could also see the lights, while small slivers of extreme northern Idaho and northeastern Washington are also within the view line. What Is Causing The Geomagnetic Storms? Forecasters believe the influence of coronal hole high speed streams are causing more geomagnetic storms. Coronal holes are 'cooler, less dense' regions of the Sun, according to NOAA, that have unipolar magnetic fields. Solar winds escape from these regions and travel in fast streams. When they interact with the Earth's magnetosphere, they can create visual phenomenon like the northern lights or cause geomagnetic storms. Within two hours of midnight, according to NOAA. The aurora is most active between 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., forecasters say, but could still appear in the evening and morning hours outside that four-hour window. For the best chance to catch a glimpse of the northern lights, viewers should move away from cities or other sources of light pollution and move closer to the Earth's magnetic north pole. What To Watch For Tomorrow night's expected Kp index is four, meaning there is a high likelihood the lights will appear above northern Alaska and large portions of Canada.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Don't Miss Tonight's Northern Lights Show—These 18 States Have the Best View
Find out if the dazzling display will be in your Points The northern lights may be visible tonight across parts of the northern U.S., including states as far south as Illinois, due to predicted geomagnetic storm activity. NOAA forecasts moderate G2 geomagnetic storm conditions between 2 and 5 a.m. EDT. The best chance to view the auroras is from a dark, north-facing location around 2 in the United States, as far south as Illinois, could have the chance to see a spectacular light show tonight. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the northern lights are projected to illuminate the skies this evening. The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) is predicting minor to moderate geomagnetic storms in the very early hours of Friday morning, with a slight chance of strong G3 levels, caused by an incoming coronal mass ejection (an ejection of plasma mass from the sun's corona). Geomagnetic storms are ranked from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme). A G2 storm means that the aurora oval—the zone where there is a higher probability of seeing the northern lights—could move farther south, allowing more parts of the northern U.S. to spot the natural phenomenon, especially if there's minimal light pollution. G3 conditions could bring auroras as far south as Pennsylvania, but that's less likely. Based on the NOAA forecast, residents in 18 states including Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, South Dakota, Vermont, New Hampshire, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, New York, Wyoming, Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois will have an opportunity to spot the northern lights, with those in the northernmost parts having the greatest possibility. According to NOAA's Kp index forecast, activity could begin as early as 11 p.m. EDT tonight, with moderate G2 storm conditions occurring from 2 to 5 a.m. EDT, which will be the best aurora viewing window. There is also a chance the geomagnetic storm will pop up Friday night into Saturday morning instead, according to the Met Office, the United Kingdom's national meteorological service. So if you don't see the auroras tonight, be sure to check back tomorrow night. The Kp index is a scale from 0 to 9 used to measure geomagnetic activity. The higher the number, the more likely auroras are to be visible at mid-latitudes, away from the poles. NOAA currently predicts the Kp index will peak at 6 in the middle of the night tonight. If you're in an area with the potential to experience auroras, head out and find a north-facing location with a clear view of the horizon that's as far away from light pollution as possible. The best time to see the northern lights will be around 2 a.m. local time. Read the original article on Martha Stewart Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Northern lights could be visible in these states: See forecast map
More than a dozen states in the northern part of the contiguous U.S. have a chance to see the northern lights. About 15 states could catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis on Aug. 9, according to the latest forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center. An earlier forecast for Friday, Aug. 8, showed a possibility of seeing the aurora in about 18 states was downgraded to a lesser event shorter before 8 a.m. ET. A coronal mass ejection, or large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the sun, lifted off the star on Aug. 5, raising expectations to cause geomagnetic activity, according to NOAA. For Aug. 9, NOAA said it predicts a geomagnetic K-index of 5. The K-index measures geomagnetic activity and indicates how far away from the poles the northern lights could be visible, according to the agency. A Kp score between 3-5 indicates brighter and increased activity, per NOAA. On another geomagnetic storm scale, NOAA ranks the event a G1, which is considered a minor event. The northern lights, a natural phenomenon formally known as the aurora borealis, can project colorful lights in the night sky because of an interaction between the sun's plasma and Earth's magnetic field, according to the National Weather Service. When could the northern lights be visible? The best view of the northern lights is usually within an hour or two of midnight, according to NOAA. The aurora is not visible during daylight hours, and is usually seen just after sunset or just before sunrise, according to the agency. More news: What is Instagram map? How to turn location feature on and off Where could the northern lights be visible? See map Parts of about 15 states are within NOAA's forecasted "view line" for the northern lights on Aug. 9. The view line indicates the southernmost point where the aurora could be seen on the northern horizon. The following states could catch a glimpse of the aurora, according to NOAA's forecasted view line: Alaska Idaho Iowa Maine Michigan Minnesota Montana New Hampshire New York North Dakota South Dakota Vermont Washington Wisconsin Wyoming Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will northern lights be visible this weekend? See aurora forecast map Solve the daily Crossword
Forbes
3 days ago
- Climate
- Forbes
Northern Lights Update: 15 States Might See Aurora Borealis Friday Night
A recent coronal mass ejection is expected to disrupt Earth's magnetic field once again Friday night, potentially bringing the northern lights to more than a dozen states in the northern U.S., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Earth's magnetic field will likely be disrupted by a recent coronal mass ejection, forecaster said. APA/AFP via Getty Images NOAA forecast a Kp index of five on a scale of nine, suggesting the northern lights have a minimal chance of being seen as far south as Iowa, with a higher chance of seeing aurora borealis in states along the Canadian border. Periods of minor geomagnetic storms are expected late Friday and early Saturday because of 'influences' from a coronal mass ejection emitted from the sun on Aug. 5, according to NOAA. Calmer auroral activity is forecast for Saturday and Sunday night with a maximum Kp index of about four and just over three expected, respectively, according to NOAA's three-day outlook. Northern Canada and Alaska will have the highest likelihood of viewing the phenomenon, once the sun sets in the state. A lesser chance is forecast for parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. (See map below.) Friday night's view line. NOAA NOAA suggests traveling to a north-facing, high vantage point away from light pollution sometime between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, when the lights are most active. What's The Best Way To Photograph The Northern Lights? If using a regular camera, photography experts told National Geographic it's best to use a wide-angle lens, an aperture or F-stop of four or less and a focus set to the furthest possible setting. With a smartphone, NOAA recommends enabling night mode and disabling flash, while also using a tripod to stabilize the image. Key Background More people in the U.S. have been exposed to northern lights displays in the last year as activity peaked on the sun's surface. This peak, a 'solar maximum,' occurs throughout the sun's 11-year cycle alongside a 'solar minimum' and indicates an increase in solar events like coronal mass ejections and solar flares. The swirling, colorful lights of the aurora borealis are created from electrons of these events colliding with molecules of oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth's atmosphere, causing them to become 'excited' before releasing energy in the form of light. Further Reading Forbes Northern Lights Displays Hit A 500-Year Peak In 2024—Here's Where You Could Catch Aurora Borealis In 2025 By Ty Roush
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Auroras may be visible from 18 states this weekend as solar storm barrels toward Earth
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Space weather experts warn that a moderate-strength geomagnetic storm could hit Earth Friday or Saturday (Aug. 8 or 9) — possibly bringing auroras to northern U.S. skies. On Wednesday (Aug. 6), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a geomagnetic storm watch and suggested that the storm is likely associated with a recent solar flare that erupted from an active region of the sun. The effects of such a storm would be manageable and would be limited to technology infrastructure, NOAA said. But as a bonus for skywatchers, auroras may be visible from New York to Idaho. Geomagnetic storms are temporary disturbances in Earth's magnetosphere that stem from solar wind entering nearby space. Long, high-speed winds traveling in the direction opposite to Earth's magnetic field often cause the most notable storms. The largest geomagnetic storms are associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs) — expulsions of billions of tons of plasma from the sun. The plasma and the magnetic field embedded in it usually reach Earth several days after erupting from the sun. The possible upcoming storm is predicted based on a CME that occurred on Aug. 5 after a solar flare. The warning predicts that the storm will peak as a moderate category G2 storm on NOAA's five-tier scale for evaluating the severity of geomagnetic storms. (Category G5 storms are the strongest, like the one that struck Earth in May 2024 and made auroras visible as far south as Florida.) Related: Scientists discover strong, unexpected link between Earth's magnetic field and oxygen levels An onslaught of solar wind can cause changes in the currents, plasma and fields of Earth's magnetosphere, causing energetic particles to collect in the ionosphere — the part of the atmosphere that acts as a boundary between Earth and the vacuum of space. The extra heat and density in the ionosphere can apply drag on satellites in low Earth orbit and affect radio signals, which can disrupt navigation systems that rely on GPS. RELATED STORIES —The US isn't prepared for a big solar storm, exercise finds —Earth's magnetic field is weakening — magnetic crystals from lost civilizations could hold the key to understanding why —NASA's Parker Solar Probe spots powerful magnetic explosion aimed at the sun's surface Geomagnetic storms also often produce observable auroras at unusually low latitudes. Eighteen states, as far south as South Dakota and Iowa, may have a chance to witness the northern lights tomorrow and Saturday, NOAA predicts. It's difficult for experts to guess exactly when the northern lights will show, but the agency suggests that the "best" auroras are typically visible in the dark, within one or two hours of midnight. The full Sturgeon Moon, which rises Aug. 9 at sunset, may outshine fainter auroras — so try to stand with your back to the moon if you go aurora hunting this weekend. Solve the daily Crossword
