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Northern lights were visible in CT this evening due to a “very rare” storm

Posted on by Kennedy
Northern lights were visible in CT this evening due to a “very rare” storm

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The Northern Lights could be visible across much of the country this evening, including Connecticut.

On Wednesday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center issued a warning that a geomagnetic storm could reach Earth on Thursday.

Officials predict the geomagnetic storm, in which a flare of solar material and magnetic fields reaches Earth, could bring colorful auroras across much of the northern half of the country. This severe storm could be similar to the one in May, where people across the country were able to see the lights with the naked eye.

“Watches at this level are very rare,” NOAA said.

Here's what you should know about the forecast.

When will the Northern Lights be visible in Connecticut?

Officials expect the aurora to reach Earth between Thursday morning and afternoon, but don't know exactly when the best viewing time will be until the storm approaches Earth.

NOAA has a spacecraft a million miles from Earth that can detect when a solar storm is moving across the planet. If discovered by the spacecraft, the auroras are expected to be visible above Earth within 15 to 30 minutes.

NOAA said it would issue an alert on its website once officials had more information about the timing.

Where will the Northern Lights be visible?

According to a forecast from NOAA, the Northern Lights are expected to be visible across much of the northern half of the country on Thursday, including Connecticut.

“The aurora could be visible over much of the northern half of the country, perhaps even as far south as Alabama and northern California,” NOAA said.

How to see the Northern Lights

The best time to see an aurora is when it's dark, usually between one and two hours before midnight, according to NOAA. Officials recommend staying away from city lights and staying at lower latitudes.

“There can be auroras in the evenings and mornings, but it is usually not as active and therefore not as visually appealing,” NOAA said.

Where can you check the Northern Lights forecast?

To keep track of the latest Northern Lights forecasts, check out these websites:

  • The Space Weather Prediction Center
  • Space.com
  • Aurora Forecast Page (NOAA)
  • Aurora range
  • Aurora warnings

Are the Northern Lights dangerous?

According to NOAA, the solar storms that cause the Northern Lights can impact technology by inducing additional currents in the ground that can affect the operation of the power grid.

Geomagnetic storms can also alter the signal from radio navigation systems, according to NOAA.

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