A New Year’s Eve storm could make the northern lights visible in the US as Americans welcome 2025.
For the last time before the New Year, the stunning colors of the aurora borealis could be visible to those living in the the northern border of America.
Solar storms, the result of two bursts of plasma hurtling toward Earth, may show auroras early this week, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
“A burst of activity occurred over the weekend of December 28-29 as active regions and groups of (sun)spots became unstable,” NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) reported.
CATCH THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN THE US AND AROUND THE WORLD WITH THESE VIEWING TIPS
And tonight could be the perfect opportunity to catch the dancing colors the night sky.
A tracker on the NOAA website noted that it “shows a ‘line of sight’ that represents the southernmost locations from which you can see the Northern Lights on the northern horizon.
Alaska, Washington, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine have the opportunity to enjoy a spectacular light display.
A RARE CHANCE TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS MAY BE POSSIBLE THIS WEEKEND DUE TO A SOLAR FLARE
While parts of Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois and even New York could get a slight glimpse of the lights.
“The aurora can often be observed somewhere on Earth just after sunset or just before sunrise,” NOAA reported.
“The aurora doesn’t have to be directly overhead, but it can be seen from as far away as 1,000 km when the aurora is bright and conditions are good.”
FOX Weather reported that one of the Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) hit Earth’s atmosphere Tuesday afternoon, resulting in a geomagnetic storm watch through New Year’s Day.
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS CAN BE SEEN IN SOME PARTS OF US THIS WEEK AFTER ‘STRONG SOLAR ACTIVITY’
The SWPC predicts the geomagnetic storm will continue into Tuesday night as people across the country ring in the New Year.
When it comes to viewing the Northern Lights, there are several factors to consider to maximize your view — location, weather, geomagnetic activity and darkness.
Place
The most important thing when it comes to your location is to find a place with few or no obstacles.
“Try to find a place that has minimal tree lines or hills so that the northern horizon can be fully seen,” Fox News reported.
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Time
The best time to see the lights is in the late evening or early morning, which is certainly the case this New Year and New Years.
“The best aurora is usually within an hour or two of midnight (between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time),” according to the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).
“There can be aurora in the evening and in the morning, but it’s usually not as active and therefore not as visually appealing.”
Geomagnetic activity
When the geomagnetic field is active, the aurora will be brighter, stronger and further away from the magnetic poles, according to the SWPC.
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The best time to see the aurora borealis is when the planetary K index is at eight or nine and the aurora is moving equatorward, the weather service website said.
“Strong, Level 3 out of 5, geomagnetic storms are possible Tuesday, and a smaller Level 1 storm is forecast for the New Year. However, space weather forecasters are considering upgrading the watch to Level 2,” FOX Weather reported.
Darkness
To get the best possible view of the aurora borealis, find the darkest spot possible.
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“A full moon will also reduce the aurora’s apparent brightness (not actual brightness),” SWPC continued.
You’ll also want to make sure it’s a clear night, with no clouds in the sky.