Possible Aurora Display on New Year’s Eve Due to Geomagnetic Storm in Certain Areas of the US
Get ready for a potentially spectacular show this New Year’s Eve! An incoming geomagnetic storm could increase the chances of witnessing the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights.
If solar storms trigger a geomagnetic storm on Earth, the northern lights may be visible beyond the usual Arctic Circle boundaries and extend down into the northernmost U.S. states. According to a forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Dec. 31, a moderate-strong G2-G3 geomagnetic storm with a Kp index of 6-7 is expected. This means that places like New York and Idaho, and potentially even Illinois and Oregon, could catch a glimpse of the aurora.
The Kp index measures geomagnetic activity in the Earth’s atmosphere. When the index falls in the range of 6 to 7, the aurora tends to move further from the poles and become brighter and more active, as noted by NOAA.
Additionally, a minor G1-level geomagnetic storm warning is also in effect from New Year’s Eve into Jan. 1. These storms typically only produce auroras visible from higher latitudes, such as in northern Michigan and Maine.
Recent solar flares, including two X-class solar flares and 17 M-class flares within 24 hours on Dec. 29, have heightened the anticipation for the incoming geomagnetic storm. Two of the M-class flares released solar storms—streams of electrically charged particles and plasma called coronal mass ejections (CMEs)—toward Earth.
