Northern Lights may be visible tonight in many areas

telcodad · 2025-04-16T23:19:27+00:00

Just got this Space Weather Alert for a major Geomagnetic storm, should results in some good Auroras late tonight and tomorrow: Space Weather Message Code: ALTK08 Serial Number: 50 Issue Time: 2025 Apr 16 2054 UTC ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 8, 9- Threshold Reached: 2025 Apr 16 2055 UTC Synoptic Period: 1800-2100 UTC Active Warning: Yes NOAA Scale: G4 - Severe NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 45 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude. Induced Currents - Possible widespread voltage control problems and some protective systems may mistakenly trip out key assets from the power grid. Induced pipeline currents intensify. Spacecraft - Systems may experience surface charging; increased drag on low earth orbit satellites, and tracking and orientation problems may occur. Navigation - Satellite navigation (GPS) degraded or inoperable for hours. Radio - HF (high frequency) radio propagation sporadic or blacked out. Aurora - Aurora may be seen as low as Alabama and northern California. New Jerseyans may see the northern lights tonight. See locations, time, map By Lori Comstock, USA TODAY NETWORK - April 16, 2025 https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2025/04/16/what-time-can-i-see-the-northern-lights-in-new-jersey-tonight-aurora-borealis-forecast-time-zip-code/83115353007/ The northern lights shone bright across several U.S. states Tuesday night, but your best chance to see the dazzling display in New Jersey could be tonight. A “strong” solar storm that emitted a burst of highly energetic particles from the sun over the weekend is interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere, triggering colorful geomagnetic storms across the northern U.S. states. A geomagnetic storm watch issued by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center shows tonight is the best opportunity to see the red, green and purple hues dancing in the night sky: https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/g3-watch-16-apr-2025 While Canada and several northern states can witness the atmospheric phenomenon tonight, depending on the storm’s intensity — which experts say are difficult to predict — it may be visible as far south as New Jersey. Here’s what to know about the northern lights, and how you might be able to spot them in New Jersey. Can you see the northern lights tonight in NJ? Even though conditions are proving ideal for geomagnetic storm viewing, experts have long struggled to predict the strength and where or when auroras will even occur. Even the best predictions can change within a 30-minute time frame, as seen on NOAA’s continuously updated website: https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/aurora-dashboard-experimental It may be possible to view the northern lights in New Jersey tonight, particularly since this storm has the potential to be a K-index of 7 or greater, according to NOAA. This means that the auroras will be “quite bright and active.” NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center provides updates every half hour, as well as a map that provides where the auroras may be viewed tonight: https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast

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Another possible chance to see the Northern Lights tonight if you’re close to the U.S.-Canada border:

Northern Lights Forecast: U.S May See Aurora Tonight After Solar Flare
By Jamie Carter, Senior Contributor, Forbes - June 19, 2025
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2025/06/19/northern-lights-forecast-us-may-see-aurora-tonight-after-solar-flare/

The Northern Lights may be visible on camera close to the U.S.-Canada border as soon as it gets dark on Thursday, June 19 and into Friday, June 20, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center, with forecasts including a geomagnetic storm that could potentially be visible from 14 U.S. states.

Key Facts

NOAA is forecasting a geomagnetic storm, measured at a value of G1 on a scale of G1 to G5, beginning around 1:00 a.m. EDT on Friday, June 20, though the timing is hard to accurately predict.
NOAA’s aurora viewlines have potential aurora displays possible in northern U.S. states and Canada — though in the U.S., those regions close to the Canada border will have the highest chance
According to NOAA’s forecast, the Kp index — which provides a rough guide to the intensity of aurora displays — may reach 5, seeing the auroral oval stretch farther south. For a Kp in the range of 3 to 5, the aurora can be “quite pleasing to look at.” The Kp index uses a scale of 0 to 9.

The Aurora Dashboard of NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center: https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/aurora-dashboard-experimental

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