Forecast of Northern Lights in Iowa on Thursday Night
The Space Weather Prediction Center forecasts that the northern lights will appear in Iowa skies Thursday evening, Nov. 7. The event has a strong chance of being visible across northern parts of the United States.
What Are the Northern Lights?
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are described by NOAA as “beautiful light curtains formed when energetic particles from the sun strike the atmosphere.” This natural phenomenon is seen in the northern hemisphere, while a similar event—the aurora australis—occurs in the southern hemisphere.
Visibility in Iowa
- The predicted view line of the northern lights crosses near Iowa’s southern border.
- Residents in northern Iowa are more likely to witness the aurora borealis on Thursday night.
- Cloud cover may obstruct the view for many residents, especially near Des Moines, where about 94% cloud cover is expected around 9 p.m.
- The clearest skies are expected along Iowa’s western border.
- Clouds are forecast to decrease later in the night, with Des Moines’ cloud cover dropping to about 31% by midnight.
Additional Factors Affecting Visibility
Thursday night’s moon will be a waning gibbous with 98% illumination, which might reduce the visibility of the northern lights for some viewers.
“Beautiful light curtains formed when energetic particles from the sun strike the atmosphere.” — NOAA description of auroras
Summary: Iowa may see the northern lights Thursday night, especially in northern and western areas, though cloud cover and moon brightness could limit visibility.