Northern Lights Illuminate the Sky Across 22 States Tonight
A recent sunburst has set the stage for a spectacular celestial light show. Stargazers in New York and other states may witness the aurora borealis tonight, thanks to a powerful geomagnetic storm.
Solar Flare and Coronal Mass Ejection
On November 5, an M7.4 solar flare erupted from the sun, releasing a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)—a massive burst of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun's outer layer. Traveling at speeds between 2.5 and 3.1 million mph, the CME is expected to reach Earth by late November 6 or early November 7.
Geomagnetic Storm and Aurora Forecast
When the CME arrives, it could trigger a strong G3 geomagnetic storm, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center. This storm might intensify auroras, making them visible further south, potentially as far as the US Midwest.
“Watches have been issued for these times with moderate to high confidence in timing, and moderate confidence in magnitude,” NOAA states.
Excitement from Experts
“A whole train of big #solarstorms are on their way, along with some smaller storms hitting now, and some fast solar wind! It is an #aurora photographer’s dream starting now and lasting at least through the weekend,” shared space weather physicist Tamitha Skov on X.
Enthusiasts are encouraged to look to the skies for this rare and vibrant display of the northern lights.
Summary: A powerful solar flare is set to trigger a strong geomagnetic storm, providing an exceptional opportunity to see northern lights across 22 states, including much of the US Midwest.