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Know Your Weather FOX: Northern Lights
FOX Weather Meteorologist Stephen Morgan discusses the Northern Lights and how they can be seen.
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) warns that an impending strong geomagnetic storm has the potential to produce a brilliant display of the Northern Lights over the Northern Hemisphere, as well as some intermittent communication problems.
The center said satellites detected at least one solar flare and one coronal mass ejection emitted by the Sun on Friday.
Auroras occur when charged particles from the Sun interact with the Earth’s atmosphere, creating what is known as the aurora borealis and aurora australis.
On their five-point scale of geomagnetic storms, space experts believe the first wave of energy could be classified as G1 or G2, but would increase to G3 on Monday.
A G1-rated geomagnetic storm is the weakest and commonly causes northern lights displays over Alaska and Canada. A G3 rating would possibly allow seeing an aurora as far south as Washington, Wisconsin and New York if the sky is clear.
On Saturday, the SWPC said moderate geomagnetic storm (G2) levels were observed. Moderate levels are again forecast for Sunday night, with potentially strong levels (G3) on Monday.
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THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
The amount of geomagnetic activity is also monitored by ground-based magnetometers, and the event is measured on the Kp index scale, which ranges from 0 to 9.
A G3 event with a high Kp index value caused northern lights to be observed as far south as Las Vegas in December.
Space experts believe the next event could reach a Kp index value of at least 6, which would put cities such as Seattle, Minneapolis, Green Bay and Syracuse, New York, in the visibility zone.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute forecasts high aurora activity at levels of Kp-6 through Monday night.
“The general public should not be concerned, but may wish to stay informed,” the SWPC said.
What Kp index value is needed to see the Northern Lights in the USA? (NOAA)
The FOX Forecast Center expects there will be many obstacles in the sky on Sunday and Monday nights that could complicate viewing.
A large storm system will move through the heart of the country, producing abundant snow and thunderstorms.
In addition to increased cloud cover, March’s full Worm Moon will illuminate the sky, preventing the visibility of other celestial objects.
A faint lunar eclipse will begin shortly before 1 a.m. EDT on Monday and last until approximately 5:30 a.m. when it passes through Earth’s shadow.
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Space experts admit that determining the exact strength of geomagnetic activity is challenging, even as it occurs more frequently.
Geomagnetic storms have become more numerous over the past year as the Sun begins to reach its maximum phase of its solar cycle.
A solar cycle is a sequence that the Sun’s magnetic field goes through every 11 years, where the field reverses. Solar Cycle 25 began in 2019 and could last until 2030.
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