Latest news with #northernlights
CBS News
a day ago
- Climate
- CBS News
The northern lights could be visible in some U.S. states tonight. Here's where to see the auroras.
What are the northern lights? What are the northern lights? What are the northern lights? The northern lights may be visible in parts of the U.S. tonight following weekend solar storms, forecasters said. The sun burped out a huge burst of energy called a coronal mass ejection last week, prompting space weather forecasters to issue a rare, severe solar storm alert on Sunday. Another one headed toward Earth on Monday could produce more aurora sightings. The northern lights could be visible in Alaska, Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Maine, northern parts of Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and New Hampshire. NOAA's map shows its forecast for the northern lights for Monday, June 2, 2025. NOAA What are the northern lights? The sun is at the maximum phase of its 11-year activity cycle, making the light displays more common and widespread. Colorful northern lights have decorated night skies in unexpected places, and space weather experts say there are more auroras still to come. Last spring, the strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades slammed Earth, producing light displays across the Northern Hemisphere. And last fall, a powerful solar storm dazzled skygazers far from the Arctic Circle when dancing lights appeared in unexpected places, including New England and New York City. Auroras, displays known as the northern and southern lights, are commonly visible near the poles, where charged particles from the sun interact with Earth's atmosphere. Northern lights (Aurora Borealis) illuminate the sky in Fairbanks, Alaska, on March 27, 2025. Hasan Akbas/Anadolu via Getty Images Every 11 years, its poles swap places, causing magnetic twists and tangles along the way. Severe storms are capable of scrambling radio and GPS communications. The sun's active spurt is expected to last at least through the end of this year, though when solar activity will peak won't be known until months after the fact, according to NASA and NOAA. How to see auroras Northern lights forecasts can be found on NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center website or an aurora forecasting app. Consider aurora-watching in a quiet, dark area away from city lights. Experts recommend skygazing from a local or national park. And check the weather forecast because clouds can cover up the spectacle entirely. Taking a picture with a smartphone camera may also reveal hints of the aurora that aren't visible to the naked eye.
New York Times
a day ago
- Climate
- New York Times
Where Were the Northern Lights We Were Promised?
The forecast looked promising for the northern lights to be visible across much of the United States on Sunday night. From Michigan to Washington State and as far south as Alabama, people expected to be able to look up and see a light show, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But the geomagnetic storm that was expected to make the lights visible across such a wide swath of the country weakened, and instead of a light show, many got a lesson in how storms can change course. Sometimes the storms come as predicted, and sometimes the forecast changes. What happened on Sunday night? The northern lights display, also known as the aurora borealis, is set off by geomagnetic storms, which are caused by coronal mass ejections, or eruptions of materials on the sun's surface. On Sunday morning, the storm forecast for Sunday night was rated as severe enough for people to start chasing the aurora borealis. Some people in northern Europe, Wyoming and Canada did report seeing the northern lights on Sunday night. But the storm weakened, disappointing people elsewhere who had hoped to see a show. The magnetic orientation of a geomagnetic storm can change 'in a minute's notice,' and the energy transfer can become less efficient, said Lt. Cmdr. Bryan R. Brasher, a project manager at the Space Weather Prediction Center at NOAA. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CBC
a day ago
- Climate
- CBC
Following a weekend northern lights display, there's still a chance to see them tonight
Social Sharing There was a powerful geomagnetic storm over the weekend, resulting in beautiful displays of the northern lights from Canada down to the U.S. And there's a possibility that the colourful curtains in the sky could be visible once again on Monday night. The northern lights, or aurora borealis, occur when particles from the sun are carried along by fast-moving solar wind. Often this occurs due to a coronal mass ejection, or CME. This is a large expulsion of particles from the sun that travel faster than normal on the solar wind. One of these CMEs hit Earth on Saturday, resulting in auroras seen all over the world. The show continued into Sunday during daylight hours in Canada but then waned. But we are still feeling the effects of the CME interacting with our magnetic field, which means we may still get a show. The strength of a geomagnetic storm is measured using the Kp Index, ranging from one to nine. The higher the number, the stronger the storm. On Sunday, the Kp Index went as high as eight, but it fell to five by early Monday. Although it has dropped, that doesn't mean the show is over. But it's likely that it won't be as powerful or intense as this weekend's display. As Chris Ratzlaff, a seasoned aurora chaser from Airdrie, Alta., and the co-founder of the ever popular Alberta Aurora Chasers, said, there's "lots of potential [and] lots of uncertainty." "The probability is not high because there is uncertainty about the composition of the tail end of the CME," he said. "If conditions in the tail end of the CME remain favourable, then our odds for aurora will improve." Forecasting the northern lights is notoriously difficult. There are numerous conditions that need to be met, including how fast the wind is moving and whether the auroral oval — along which these particles interact with molecules that produce the colours of the lights — tips south, in our favour. The further south the hole dips, the further south the aurora are seen. And, as of Monday afternoon, the auroral oval was tipping south, in our favour. To see them, you should look north. For those further south in Canada, such as in southwestern Ontario, it's best to have a clear line of sight to the northern horizon. The other thing that many Canadians may have to deal with that could hamper any chances of seeing the northern lights is the smoke that is covering many parts of the country as forest fires spread in Western Canada. If the northern lights do show up tonight, don't expect an incredible display like the one from last May or last October. If it happens, this will likely be weaker.
Fast Company
a day ago
- Climate
- Fast Company
Aurora borealis forecast: Northern lights may be visible in 13 states tonight. Here's the best time to see them
If you missed the northern lights, or aurora borealis over the past weekend, you're in luck—you may have a second chance tonight, Monday, June 2, when they may be visible for a second night in a row in some U.S. states across the country. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts the next possibility of viewing is Monday night into early Tuesday, with the most intense activity across Canada and Alaska and the northern U.S. states. This aurora borealis is the result of a geomagnetic storm that occurs when a coronal mass ejection (CME), an eruption of solar material, reaches Earth and causes swaths of blue, green, and purple in the sky. This year's increased solar activity is likely the result of an 11-year sun cycle peaking through October. Where and when will the northern lights be visible tonight? While NOAA predicts Alaska is the best U.S. state to potentially view the aurora tonight, 'The other states that are best positioned are the northern Midwest states from Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan,' Alex Gianninas, an astronomy professor at Connecticut College told Newsweek.
The Independent
a day ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Northern lights could be visible again in some US states after weekend solar storms
Northern lights may be visible in parts of the U.S. Monday night following weekend solar storms. The sun burped out a huge burst of energy called a coronal mass ejection last week, prompting space weather forecasters to issue a rare, severe solar storm alert on Sunday, though it wasn't as strong as last year's record. Another one headed toward Earth on Monday could produce more aurora sightings. Authorities are monitoring for possible disruptions, though the worst is already over. The weekend's storms may have caused brief disruptions to high-frequency radio, said Erica Grow Cei, a spokesperson with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Auroras could be visible — especially in darker, rural areas — in Alaska, Washington, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Maine and northern parts of Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. Here's what to know about auroras and how to spot them. What are northern lights? The sun is at the maximum phase of its 11-year activity cycle, making the light displays more common and widespread. Colorful northern lights have decorated night skies in unexpected places and space weather experts say there are more auroras still to come. Last spring, the strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades slammed Earth, producing light displays across the Northern Hemisphere. And last fall, a powerful solar storm dazzled skygazers far from the Arctic Circle when dancing lights appeared in unexpected places including Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York City. Aurora displays known as the northern and southern lights are commonly visible near the poles, where charged particles from the sun interact with Earth's atmosphere. Skygazers are spotting the lights deeper into the United States and Europe because the sun is going through a major facelift. Every 11 years, its poles swap places, causing magnetic twists and tangles along the way. Severe storms are capable of scrambling radio and GPS communications. The sun's active spurt is expected to last at least through the end of this year, though when solar activity will peak won't be known until months after the fact, according to NASA and NOAA. What do solar storms do? Solar storms can bring more than colorful lights to Earth. When fast-moving particles and plasma slam into Earth's magnetic field, they can temporarily disrupt the power grid. Space weather can also interfere with air traffic control radio and satellites in orbit. In 1859, a severe solar storm triggered auroras as far south as Hawaii and caught telegraph lines on fire in a rare event. And a 1972 solar storm may have detonated magnetic U.S. sea mines off the coast of Vietnam. Space weather experts aren't able to predict a solar storm months in advance. Instead, they alert relevant parties to prepare in the days before a solar outburst hits Earth. How to see auroras Northern lights forecasts can be found on NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center website or an aurora forecasting app. Consider aurora-watching in a quiet, dark area away from city lights. Experts recommend skygazing from a local or national park. And check the weather forecast because clouds can cover up the spectacle entirely. Taking a picture with a smartphone camera may also reveal hints of the aurora that aren't visible to the naked eye. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
