Columbia, SC – South Carolina residents could see something extraordinary tonight — a possible glimpse of the Northern Lights — thanks to a powerful solar storm that continues to light up skies across the U.S. The same storm that produced brilliant auroras from Texas to Maine Tuesday night is still active, with skies expected to remain clear across the Palmetto State tonight.
According to the National Weather Service in Columbia, high pressure is keeping skies mostly clear and dry, with a Lake Wind Advisory in effect until 7 p.m. for gusts up to 30 mph on area lakes. After sunset, winds will ease and visibility for stargazing should be excellent.
The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center reports that G3 to G4-level geomagnetic storm conditions persist, strong enough to push the Aurora Borealis deep into southern states again tonight. Residents in the Midlands, Central Savannah River Area, and Upstate should look north toward the horizon after 8 p.m., away from city lights, for the best chance at spotting faint color bands or shimmering glows.
Temperatures tonight will dip into the 40s and low 50s, climbing back into the mid-60s Thursday and reaching near 80°F by Sunday under continued sunshine.
If you missed last night’s celestial show, tonight could be your only chance to catch the Northern Lights this far south before cloud cover returns later in the week.
