Aurora Forecast: Northern Lights Expected Across US Including New York
The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center reports an ongoing strong geomagnetic storm. This event is expected to make the aurora borealis, or northern lights, visible across northern parts of the United States and potentially some central states during Thursday and Friday.
Forecasted Viewing Areas
- The highest chance to see the northern lights spans from New York in the east to Washington state in the west.
- The visibility zone extends southward to include states like Wyoming, Nebraska, and Iowa.
Factors Affecting Visibility
Viewing conditions depend heavily on geomagnetic storm strength and clear skies. The brighter the storm and the cloud-free the night, the more likely the lights will be visible.
Geomagnetic Storm Details
"A 'G3' geomagnetic storm is currently active. The scale ranges from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme). This represents a larger disturbance in Earth's magnetic field that can fluctuate in intensity over hours to a day," explained NOAA in its Geomagnetic Storm Alert.
Potential Impacts Beyond Aurora Visibility
Strong geomagnetic storms can disrupt technology, causing fluctuations in power grids and satellite interference that may affect GPS accuracy.
Author's summary: A significant geomagnetic storm is increasing the chances of northern lights visible across much of the US while potentially impacting power and satellite systems.