As the New Year approaches, a solar storm is poised to bring the Northern Lights to several states in the United States.
According to reports from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the sun has released two plasmas that are heading towards Earth and are expected to arrive earlier this week.
Once they reach, it is predicted that on Monday (December 30) and Tuesday (December 31) nights, the states of Washington, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine may witness a colorful display of auroras. Parts of Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa, and New York may also have the chance to see this phenomenon.
NOAA space weather forecaster Shawn Dahl mentioned that in the early hours of Tuesday morning, these regions are most likely to experience the aurora show.
As the event approaches, the Space Weather Prediction Center website by NOAA or aurora forecast applications may provide the latest updates on the forecast.
To witness this marvel, one should wait for a clear night sky, then step outside, preferably away from bright city lights. Using a smartphone camera might also capture auroras that may not be visible to the naked eye.
The sun is currently at the peak phase of its 11-year cycle, making solar activity and auroras more frequent.
This active period is expected to last at least a year, but scientists will need a few more months to determine when solar activity will reach its peak.
NOAA is monitoring this week’s solar storms to ascertain any minor disruptions they may cause to high-frequency radio communications used by airlines and amateur radio operators.
In May of this year, NOAA issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning, the strongest in over twenty years, resulting in auroras appearing across the Northern Hemisphere. In October, a powerful solar storm dazzled stargazers far from the Arctic Circle, with auroras appearing in unexpected locations like Germany, the UK, New England, and New York City.