Charleston, WV – West Virginia residents could spot a rare Northern Lights display tonight, as the ongoing solar storm that lit up skies across the U.S. Tuesday night continues to make auroral activity possible far south of its usual range.
According to the National Weather Service in Charleston, skies will remain mostly clear and breezy this evening, with winds gusting up to 30 mph before settling down overnight. That means a good window for aurora viewing before clouds move in late Friday with a warm front.
The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center reports that a G3–G4-level geomagnetic storm remains active, capable of extending auroral visibility into the Ohio Valley and Appalachian region. The best chance to view the Aurora Borealis will be after sunset through midnight, looking north and away from city lights.
Tonight’s temperatures will range from the 40s in lowlands to 30s in higher elevations, making conditions crisp but comfortable for outdoor skywatching. Clouds and rain will return late Friday into Saturday, followed by a cold front bringing cooler air Sunday.
If skies remain clear, West Virginia could be one of the best spots in the eastern U.S. to see the aurora tonight — a rare opportunity for the Mountain State.
