On Monday night, sky gazers are in for a treat as the northern lights are expected to illuminate the night sky if weather conditions permit. The U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center reported a significant solar event, an X 1.9 flare followed by a coronal mass ejection (CME), with X flares being the most potent on the solar flare scale.
This particular flare stood out due to its prolonged duration, lasting several hours, making it more impactful than a typical flare of its magnitude. CMEs are explosive releases of solar particles that move swiftly on the solar wind. When Earth intercepts these particles, they interact with the planet’s magnetic field, resulting in the mesmerizing northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis (or aurora australis in the southern hemisphere).
Fortunately for aurora enthusiasts, Earth was in the trajectory of the CME. The SWPC forecasts the CME to reach Earth between late January 19 and early January 20 EST. This event is expected to trigger a severe geomagnetic storm, ranked G4 on the scale, indicating a high level of disturbance to Earth’s magnetosphere.
In comparison, past geomagnetic storms in May 2024 and October 2024, rated as G5 on the scale, delivered spectacular auroras visible as far south as the Caribbean. While typically seen in northern regions, under specific conditions, such as Earth intercepting a fast-moving particle stream from a CME, the auroras can be spotted further south.
To witness the spectacle, viewers should aim for dark, cloud-free locations. Although typically observed facing north, the severity of this forecast suggests visibility from various directions. Timing is crucial, as the event must occur during nighttime. While this time of year tends to have more cloud cover, enthusiasts are encouraged to seek dark-sky spots for optimal viewing.
For real-time updates on aurora visibility, individuals can utilize apps like Aurora Alerts and Aurora Forecast.