If you live in the northern United States, you might be in for a show. On October 2, the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center issued a G1-G3 geomagnetic storm watch, which means colorful skies are coming. The sun released a large flare, which NOAA said is generally not common but also not unusual.
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Today's X9 (R3) flare was prolific, but impulsive (imagery courtesy of jhelioviewer). Still, the flare was associated with a CME and analyses and model runs are being conducted at this time. Updates will come later, stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/lMGQOIoR4l
— NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) October 3, 2024
How Much Of The Northern Light We’ll See Depends On the Storm
The storm’s magnitude will determine how much of a light show we might see. NOAA warned that there could be a loss of radio signal due to the storm, but most will not be affected. The northern lights are expected to be visible from October 3 to October 5. Those living in the northern states and some of the lower midwest up to Oregon could be in the storm’s path.
The best way to view the northern lights is at night when the sky is darkest. It’s helpful to be in an area with few obstructions like trees and other buildings. The colors against the blackness create a work of art in the sky. Natural factors like clouds and foggy conditions can sometimes create an issue and drown out the bright colors.
If the northern lights are visible in your area, you can view them without any special equipment. They are generally so bright and magnificent that the naked eye can see them.
Meteorologist Todd Gross shared some fantastic tips on TikTok for photographing the northern lights with just his iPhone camera. By tweaking a few settings, most phones produce incredibly bright and beautiful images.
These kinds of storms don’t happen every day, so if you can stay up late and get a clear view of the sky, you might see an incredible show.
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
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