Duluth, Minnesota – A surge of solar energy could light up skies across northern Minnesota within hours, with aurora visibility possible by late Thursday night as a geomagnetic storm strengthens.
According to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, a G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm is ongoing through Thursday night due to a high-speed solar wind stream flowing from a coronal hole on the sun. Activity intensified early Thursday and may persist into early Friday morning, with peak impacts expected overnight.
Across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas, the clearest viewing conditions will be north of Interstate 94, including Duluth, International Falls, and Grand Forks. Residents in darker rural areas could see faint auroras low on the northern horizon, especially between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Cloud cover may limit visibility in some locations.
While impacts remain minimal, NOAA notes brief disruptions to GPS accuracy and minor fluctuations in power systems are possible. Utility providers and satellite operators are monitoring conditions, though no widespread outages are expected.
Residents hoping to view the northern lights should move away from city lights, allow eyes to adjust for 20 minutes, and check real-time sky conditions before heading out. Phone cameras may capture colors not visible to the naked eye.
Geomagnetic activity is expected to weaken by early Friday, though additional alerts could be issued if solar conditions intensify again.
