Some Parts of the U.S. Could Witness the Northern Lights on Thanksgiving Day

[ad_1]
Thanksgiving may be cool and rainy in many areas of the U.S., but solar storms are expected to bring the possibility of viewing the northern lights to some states. A filament eruption on Monday has led to minor to moderate geomagnetic storms which could result in the northern lights being visible in states such as Washington, Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, Idaho, Wyoming, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire. The best chance to see the aurora borealis is Thursday evening until early Friday, with the possibility of G1 and G2 geomagnetic storms. Clear conditions are preferred for viewing, as areas of cloudiness may limit visibility. Unlike previous solar storms that caused disruptions, experts do not anticipate any major issues with communications systems this time. Solar storms occur when coronal mass ejections from the sun send clouds of plasma towards Earth, interacting with the planet’s magnetic field to create the beautiful auroras. The sun is currently in a cycle of increased activity leading up to an expected peak next July, resulting in more frequent sightings of the northern lights this year. Interested viewers can track the latest activity and forecast on NOAA’s Aurora Dashboard to determine the best time and location to observe the northern lights this holiday weekend.

Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com