Enhanced Northern Lights Display Expected This Weekend
After producing a strong X7.1 solar flare on Wednesday, the sun released an even more powerful X9.0 flare on Thursday, marking the strongest flare of its current solar cycle so far. For comparison, the flare that caused May’s brilliant auroras was an X8.7.
Solar flares can lead to coronal mass ejections (CMEs), eruptions of solar material that often result in Northern Lights displays. A pair of CMEs is expected to impact Earth between Friday and Sunday, which could enhance aurora activity.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) initially issued minor to strong geomagnetic storm watches for Thursday through Saturday. These have since been upgraded to strong G3-level storms, now extending into Sunday.
Friday night’s aurora has a Kp index of 5, indicating heightened activity with brighter and more visually striking displays, assuming favorable weather conditions, according to NOAA.
Solar activity has been unusually intense in recent months as the sun’s 11-year solar cycle, known as Solar Cycle 25, approaches its predicted peak between late 2024 and early 2026. Sunspots are expected to increase over the next year, likely causing more geomagnetic storms.
While it’s difficult to predict exactly where the Northern Lights will appear, they are expected to be most visible Friday night in Canada and Alaska, according to NOAA (see image below). However, several continental U.S. states fall within the aurora’s possible viewing range, including Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
