Severe Geomagnetic Storm Could Bring Northern Lights Across Much of the U.S.
NOAA issues a rare G4 storm watch as aurora borealis may be visible from the Pacific Northwest to the Midwest Monday night.
On Monday evening, skywatchers from the Pacific Northwest to the Midwest got ready for something out of the ordinary: a celestial display that typically occurs at high northern latitudes. Americans who provide forecasts as a powerful cloud of charged particles from the sun accelerates toward the Earth's magnetic field, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a "G4 (Severe) geomagnetic storm watch."
This solar event is rooted in an energetic burst on the sun’s surface: an X1.9-class solar flare that erupted on January 18, sending a massive coronal mass ejection (CME) outward into space. It is anticipated that that CME, which is essentially a cloud of superheated plasma, will strike Earth's magnetosphere as early as late Monday night or early Tuesday, thereby preparing the ground for increased geomagnetic activity.
When these solar particles interact with Earth's magnetic field, they cause geomagnetic storms that cause the colorful displays known as the "aurora borealis" or "Northern Lights" to appear. When a storm reaches higher levels on the NOAA scale, this auroral oval expands southward. Typically, these shimmering light curtains are restricted to Arctic regions, such as Alaska or Northern Canada. This week’s event could be one of those rare occasions.
The Space Weather Prediction Center of NOAA has noted the possibility of "severe G4 conditions," which means that skywatchers in a large portion of the northern and central United States may be able to observe auroras dancing on the horizon. Meteorologists say the most dramatic displays are expected overnight Monday into early Tuesday as the storm reaches its peak.
As charged particles interact with the atmosphere, eerie hues have already been reported in recent days, and as the main CME approaches, a new wave of activity may occur. People who love the night sky in states like Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and Maine have a good chance of seeing the aurora, but if the geomagnetic activity stays strong, even places further south, like Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, might see it. This spectacle may be enjoyed even in locations that are further away from the equator. The auroral display could reach as far south as "mid-latitude states" according to some forecasts, giving many people a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see one of nature's greatest light shows without going to the Arctic.
To see the stars glow, not everyone will need to travel far. Previous geomagnetic watches in the Pacific Northwest suggested that clouds could be a challenge, but clear breaks in the night sky could provide dramatic views of shifting green and red arcs. In Chicago and parts of Illinois, local meteorologists have also highlighted Monday night as a time when auroras might appear — a rare sight well south of their usual range.
Geomagnetic storms, however, are more than just pretty to look at. Modern technology can be affected by severe disturbances. NOAA notes that high levels of geomagnetic activity can sometimes interfere with high-frequency radio communications, navigation signals like GPS, and even satellites in low Earth orbit. Utility companies may also keep an eye out for induced currents that could cause problems with some parts of the electric grid during a big event, but widespread outages are not guaranteed.
If you want to see the aurora, you should look north after sunset, preferably from a dark, wide-open location away from the lights of the city. Between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., when geomagnetic conditions are most active and the night is darkest, is typically the best time to view the stars. Real-time aurora forecasting tools — such as NOAA’s Aurora Dashboard or popular mobile apps — can help observers track shifting activity and find the best moment to step outside.
The Northern Lights can be a spectacular challenge for photographers. With patience, a steady tripod, and long exposure settings, you can turn fleeting auroral specks into memorable photographs. Smartphone users have also reported using Night Mode successfully, particularly when stationed at a dark, light-free location. Even though the CME's effects are expected to lessen the geomagnetic storm by Wednesday, skywatchers who venture out into the cold night may remember the aurora that illuminated the skies from the Pacific to the Midwest.
This geomagnetic storm, which occurs during a winter marked by unusual weather and celestial events, serves as a reminder to us that the Earth's connection to the sun extends in dazzling and erratic ways, painting the heavens at times far beyond where we anticipate them to be.
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