The aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is expected to be visible in parts of the United States on Thursday and Friday, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center issuing a minor to moderate geomagnetic storm watch for the next two days . .
“A coronal mass ejection (CME) is an eruption of solar material,” says NOAA. “When they arrive on Earth, a geomagnetic storm could occur. Watches of this level are not uncommon.”
NOAA expects minor impacts to impact Earth on Thursday, while moderate impacts will continue through Friday.
This watch comes nearly two months after New Jersey’s last dazzling display of color, which took place in early October, sending Garden State residents out into the cold in hopes of catching a rare glimpse of the Northern Lights.
At that time, NOAA issued a severe geomagnetic storm warning of G4 or higher, also due to a CME. According to NOAA, a CME arriving on Earth could result in a severe geomagnetic storm, impacting infrastructure technology and allowing the aurora to be observed at a longer range.
The lights were also visible in New Jersey in May after a series of strong solar flares.
Will the Northern Lights be visible in New Jersey this week?
As of Wednesday morning, New Jersey was not included in NOAA’s forecast, which stated: “The aurora may become visible over some northern and upper Midwestern states, from New York to Idaho. Those interested in seeing the aurora can visit our web page for updates.”
Where will the Northern Lights be visible?
The line of sight in Thursday night’s Aurora Viewline Forecast only extends as close to New Jersey as it does as far north as New York. Additionally, the forecast predicted a G scale of 1 (out of 5), with the aurora typically only visible at high latitudes, such as northern Michigan and Maine.
Moderate conditions on G2, currently forecast for Friday, typically bring lights as low as New York and Idaho, according to NOAA.
For updates and to view the most updated forecast, visit NOAA’s Aurora Dashboard at https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/aurora-dashboard-experimental.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Northern Lights expected to be visible this week. Here’s where
