Aurora Borealis Possible in Nine US States Due to Solar Flare
A solar storm is expected to cause geomagnetic disturbances, potentially making the Northern Lights visible in parts of the northern U.S. on July 2 and 3.
The Northern Lights may be visible in parts of the northern and upper Midwest United States on July 2 and 3, following a forecast from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. The event is attributed to a solar flare.
A geomagnetic storm with a K-index (KP) of 5 is predicted for Thursday and Friday, indicating that the aurora will be bright and widely visible. Auroras are typically best viewed between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time and are most visible towards the magnetic poles.
Visibility is expected in parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. In the Midwest, it could also be seen in northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, as well as Alaska.
The aurora is caused by a coronal mass ejection (CME), which is an eruption of solar material and magnetic fields from the sun. When a CME reaches Earth, it can trigger geomagnetic storms that result in vivid auroral displays.