NOAA Sees Kp 5 Aurora Over Border States and Alaska as CME Lifts Storm Risk
Updated
Updated · Forbes · Jun 7
NOAA Sees Kp 5 Aurora Over Border States and Alaska as CME Lifts Storm Risk
3 articles · Updated · Forbes · Jun 7
Summary
A Kp index of 5 is forecast for Sunday night, putting the northern lights within view in parts of northern U.S. border states and much of Alaska.
A coronal mass ejection that left the sun Saturday is expected to reach Earth by Monday, driving geomagnetic storms that NOAA rates from G1 to G3 through Tuesday.
North Dakota, northern Minnesota, northern Montana, the Michigan Upper Peninsula and the far north of Washington, Idaho, Wisconsin and South Dakota are in the potential viewing zone, though chances in the Lower 48 remain lower than in Alaska.
Strong geomagnetic storms can disrupt satellites and radio communications, but they can also push aurora displays farther south—at times as far as Illinois.
NOAA says the best viewing window is roughly 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. from dark, north-facing locations away from city lights.