Federal space weather forecasters have issued a G3 geomagnetic storm watch for Tuesday, potentially allowing the northern lights, or aurora borealis, to be visible across portions of the northern U.S. on Monday and Tuesday nights. Auroras are caused by solar activity such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections, which send energetic charged particles towards Earth at high speeds. These particles are redirected to the poles by the Earth’s magnetic field, creating the light show known as the northern lights.
The current heightened solar activity is due to the peak of the 11-year solar cycle, with the current cycle being Solar Cycle 25. Sunspots on the sun’s surface produce solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which trigger geomagnetic storms on Earth that contribute to the appearance of the aurora borealis. The peak of Solar Cycle 25 is expected to last into the first half of 2025, providing additional opportunities to see the northern lights.
During major geomagnetic storms, auroras can expand beyond the poles and be visible over some parts of the United States. In the past, auroras have been visible as far south as Illinois and Oregon during strong geomagnetic storms. The most extreme geomagnetic storm recorded in May 10 allowed the northern lights to be seen across all 50 states.
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