Northern lights may be visible in parts of the U.S. this Thanksgiving

While Thanksgiving may be cool and rainy in many parts of the country, there is a chance for some to catch a glimpse of the northern lights thanks to solar storms hitting the Earth this holiday weekend. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts minor to moderate geomagnetic storms on Thursday and Friday due to a filament eruption on Monday that shot high-energy plasma towards Earth. States like Washington, Montana, the Dakotas, and Maine have a good chance of seeing the aurora borealis, with other states like Idaho, Wyoming, and Vermont also having a possibility. The best viewing conditions will be in areas with clear skies, as cloudiness may limit visibility in the Northeast and near the Great Lakes. Despite the potential for the northern lights, these solar storms are not expected to cause major disruptions to communication systems, unless they turn out to be stronger than predicted. Solar storms occur when the sun sends plasma clouds towards Earth, interacting with the planet’s magnetic field and creating dazzling auroras in the upper atmosphere. The sun is currently approaching an expected peak in activity next July, leading to more frequent sightings of the northern lights further south than usual. Viewers interested in seeing the northern lights can track the latest activity and forecasts on NOAA’s Aurora Dashboard.

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