Topline
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space Weather Prediction Center, the Northern Lights will be visible in the U.S. at lower latitudes than normal Saturday evening because of a strong geomagnetic thunderstorm sparked by an unusual solar flare.
FILE – The Northern Lights or aurora borealis appear in this Wednesday, March 1, 2017, file photo. They can be seen... [+] above Bifrost, Western Iceland. Police in Iceland claim that tourists often put themselves at risk when searching for the Northern Lights. These spectacular streaks of color illuminate the night skies and create a stunning display. Police claim that tourists who are tired and sleepy are often focusing their attention on the road rather than the sky and underestimate the difficulties posed by Iceland's narrow, twisty roads. (AP Photo/Rene Rossignaud, file) ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Key Facts
Weather permitting, auroral displays can be seen in Oregon and Cheyenne as well as in Springfield, Lincoln, Springfield, and New York City. Also, at lower latitudes, in Carson City, Oklahoma City, and Raleigh in North Carolina, according to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute forecasts. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space Weather Prediction Center predicts that the Northern Lights will be visible in low-latitude states, from Pennsylvania to Oregon to Iowa. According to USA Today, the best time to see the bright lights is between 5 and 8 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday. Due to Thursday's significant solar flare, coronal mass eruption (which is a large expulsion plasma and magnetic field from outer atmosphere of sun), a strong geomagnetic storm watch will be in effect Saturday and Sunday.
Surprising Fact
The best place to see the Northern Lights is at high northern latitudes in wintertime in Scandinavia, Canada, Alaska and Canada. According to National Geographic, the aurora was visible in Mexico City in February 1958 because of spectacular auroral storms.
Important Background
The best time to see the bright lights in central Alaska during winter is generally between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. The best time to see the aurora displays is also affected by weather and geographical factors. According to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, there are always auroras visible from some location on Earth. To see them, the sky must be clear and dark. According to the institute, sunlight and clouds are two of the main factors that prevent auroral observations.
Tangent
The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute predicts that there will be strong auroral activity in Europe. Weather permitting, auroral displays that are highly active will be visible from Norway and St. Petersburg in Russia. They will also be visible from Aberdeen in Scotland, St. Petersburg, and St. Petersburg in Russia. The auroras will also be visible low in the horizon in Dublin, Ireland, and Hamburg, Germany.
Continue reading
Stargazers: A firework show called Northern Lights is coming (Associated Press).
Northern lights at Halloween weekend: This is where you might see a ghostly green glow (USA Today).
Large solar flares (CNN), could make the Aurora borealis visible across large swathes of Europe and the US on Saturday.
