(NEXSTAR) — A severe solar storm impacting Earth could bring the northern lights to portions of the U.S. on Thursday.
Earlier this week, a massive solar flare was detected on the Sun, followed by a fast-moving coronal mass ejection (CME) directed toward Earth.
The flare sparked solar radiation storm conditions on Wednesday, posing a risk to satellites, communication signals and GPS systems. NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) also issued a severe geomagnetic storm watch for the CME.
As it usually does with impending geomagnetic storms, the SWPC alerted operators of power plants and orbiting spacecraft to take precautions while alerting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) about potential power disruptions. Thankfully, those systems are largely capable of mitigating any impacts the general public would notice.
We may, however, get the chance to see the northern lights, which are caused by solar storms interacting with our atmosphere.
As of Thursday morning, the SWPC’s forecast shows a strong likelihood of the aurora being visible in Canada and Alaska, both regions that frequently have such an opportunity.
Several states in the Lower 48 may also get a chance to see the northern lights. Areas in red on the map below have the highest likelihood of catching the aurora while those in green have a lower likelihood. Those near or above the red line, known as the view line, may still have the opportunity to see the northern lights along the northern horizon (but may need to use a smartphone to actually see them).
Current forecasting shows those in northern parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, as well as most of North Dakota, may have the best chance at seeing the aurora on Thursday. Those in the southern portions of those states, as well as Oregon, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa and Maine, have a low likelihood.
Residents in states as far south as Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont may notice a celestial glow along the northern horizon.
The SWPC’s forecast shows activity could reach G4 strength between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. ET — a less-than-ideal period, considering those are still daylight hours for the U.S. Thankfully, the forecast has a roughly 12-hour window in which these strong geomagnetic conditions, which means the northern light may still be glowing as the night goes on.
This forecast could, however, change as the day goes on, depending on the activity in our atmosphere. If conditions strengthen, the aurora could appear even further south. If they weaken, fewer states may have a chance to see them.
Sadly, forecasters do not expect the storming to be as strong as it was in May when states as far south as Hawaii, Texas and Florida had the chance to see the aurora.
But, it’s likely the recent trend of solar activity will continue as the sun nears the peak of its 11-year solar cycle.