All articles tagged with #aurora borealis
Aurora borealis displays are visible across the UK and northern US due to G2 geomagnetic storms caused by solar coronal mass ejections. NOAA forecasts activity in the US through Sunday, while the UK Met Office expects sightings to continue until Tuesday. The phenomenon is part of a heightened solar activity cycle in 2026.
NOAA forecasts a G1 to G2 geomagnetic storm for Oct. 8-9, driven by a coronal mass ejection from Active Region 4549. This may produce strong northern lights in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and northern regions, though cloud cover could limit visibility.
A fourth coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun on October 8 has intensified forecasts for aurora visibility across the northern United States. NOAA predicts G1 to G2 geomagnetic storms for October 8-9, potentially allowing northern lights to be seen as far south as New York and Idaho. The activity stems from solar flares in active region AR4549, with the latest CME potentially catching up to earlier ejections to enhance geomagnetic conditions.
NOAA has issued a G2 geomagnetic storm watch for October 9, following a coronal mass ejection (CME) launched by the Sun on October 6. The CME, traveling at approximately 560 km/s, is expected to reach Earth in the early hours of October 9, potentially triggering visible auroras as far south as Idaho and New York. This event follows an M1.4-class solar flare from sunspot region AR4549, which is currently positioned near the center of the Earth-facing side of the Sun. While exact arrival timing remains uncertain, forecasters anticipate moderate geomagnetic activity that could enhance northern lights visibility across the northern United States.
Alaska has a high chance of seeing the northern lights tonight, while seven other states—Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin—have a low chance, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center; auroras occur when solar wind particles collide with Earth's atmosphere.
NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center says the aurora borealis could be visible tonight in eight U.S. states, led by Alaska with a high chance and including Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin at lower chances. The display is caused by solar winds interacting with Earth's atmosphere.
NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center issued a G1 geomagnetic storm watch for Friday night in Michigan, with the Kp index possibly rising to about 5.7, potentially producing strong aurora borealis across the state (especially the Upper Peninsula). For best viewing, seek dark, clear skies away from city lights; there is a chance of clouds or rain in parts of northern Michigan, and the trend could intensify to a G2 storm into Saturday.
Forecasters expect to glimpse the Northern Lights tonight (and again Friday) as a partial lunar eclipse unfolds, with geomagnetic activity likely to heighten the aurora display and NOAA monitoring the event.
A rare red aurora may accompany tomorrow night’s blood-red partial lunar eclipse as NOAA forecasts moderate geomagnetic storms (G1–G2) from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. EDT, potentially making the northern lights visible from parts of the northern U.S. and Canada, with Canada and Alaska offering the best odds. The coppery-red moon will also be visible in dark skies, though sky-overlap between the two phenomena is unlikely; high-altitude red auroras are possible during stronger solar wind. This follows a recent M-class solar flare and coronal mass ejection. The eclipse begins around 9:23 p.m. EDT, peaks near midnight, and ends around 3 a.m. EDT, providing observers with a rare celestial double feature.
A powerful M6.9 solar flare and its coronal mass ejection could deliver a glancing blow to Earth later this week, raising the odds of visible Northern Lights across Alaska, Canada, and parts of the northern United States on clear, dark nights as NOAA forecasts a potential G1–G2 geomagnetic storm; viewing will depend on how the CME interacts with Earth's magnetic field and local light pollution.
Northern lights could appear in Central New York as the local forecast outlines what to expect for Friday and the weekend, with nicer June weather on the horizon and details from the regional meteorologist.
A rare cannibal CME—a merger of an X-class flare from sunspot 4455 and following CMEs—could reach Earth this Friday, triggering a strong geomagnetic storm and lighting up auroras far farther south than usual, visible across central England and Wales and parts of the US such as Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
NOAA has issued a G3 strong geomagnetic storm watch for Thursday night, with a chance of reaching G4, which could bring the northern lights to Washington. The display is tied to coronal mass ejections from the sun on June 3; viewing is best outside city lights between about 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., though an 82%-lit waning moon could hinder visibility. The aurora is expected to fade by Friday night.
A trio of coronal mass ejections could spark aurora displays tonight, with the strongest activity around 8 p.m. Colorado may see a weaker showing than November’s peak, but stargazers away from city lights could still glimpse a faint northern lights glow, and cameras may pick up colors even when they’re hard to see with the naked eye.
A renewed geomagnetic storm could bring another display of the northern lights to Utah, with visibility depending on solar activity and clear skies.