The Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, is a natural phenomenon caused by solar winds interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field. Forecasters are predicting that the Lights could be visible once again on Monday night in Alaska, Canada, and parts of the northern U.S. due to a geomagnetic storm that has been bombarding Earth with solar emissions. This storm has been described as “historic” and has already made the Lights visible in many parts of the continental U.S. from Friday through Sunday.
While the storm is beginning to wind down, there is still a high chance for Alaska and Canada to see the Northern Lights on Monday night. The aurora is expected to have a Kp of at least 4, meaning it will move further from the poles and appear brighter to viewers. The Sun is expected to rotate, causing the storm to dissipate after Monday night, but the Lights could still be visible for some people in Canada and Alaska on Tuesday. The Space Weather Prediction Center extended the geomagnetic storm warning through at least 5 p.m. on Monday, with a K-index as high as 5 expected.
It is difficult for astronomers to predict exactly where the Northern Lights will be visible on a given night, but NOAA’s current estimation shows they could be viewable as far south as the northern continental U.S., including parts of Maine, Minnesota, and Washington. To view the Lights, it is recommended to travel as close to the poles as possible, avoid city lights and light pollution, monitor weather forecasts for prime viewing conditions, and position yourself on a vantage point like a hilltop. The Lights are most active in the hours around midnight, typically from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The current geomagnetic storm bombarding Earth is likely being caused by NOAA Region 3664, a “magnetically complex” sunspot about 15 times larger than Earth. This sunspot has been erupting solar flares towards Earth for days, with multiple X-class flares recorded in the past week. X-class flares are the largest and most powerful solar emissions, with one flare on Sunday measuring as powerful as X5.8. The current geomagnetic storm is expected to dissipate on Tuesday after Region 3664 rotates away from Earth.
On Sunday night, the Northern Lights were visible again for millions of people, with NOAA issuing alerts for G3 level storms that may cause problems for satellites and high-frequency radio communication. The Sunday night auroras had a K-index intensity of Kp 7, potentially visible as far south as Pennsylvania and Oregon. The Northern Lights are a breathtaking natural display of light in the sky, and with the ongoing solar activity, there is a chance for more people to witness this phenomenon in the coming days.
