Chicago, IL – Residents across the Midwest may get a rare chance to see the Northern Lights Monday night as a strong solar storm heads toward Earth, according to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center.
The agency has issued a G3 (Strong) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Monday, December 9, after a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun’s surface erupted on December 6. The charged solar particles are expected to reach Earth early to midday Monday, sparking elevated geomagnetic activity across the northern United States.
According to NOAA, auroras could extend into parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, and northern Illinois, with the highest chances for visibility in rural or low-light areas away from city centers. Under clear skies, faint auroral glows may even be spotted near the Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit metro areas.
G3-level geomagnetic storms can cause minor power or GPS interference, but NOAA emphasizes these impacts are typically brief. The public’s main takeaway: look north late Monday evening through early Tuesday for a potential green or reddish-purple glow along the horizon.
Residents are encouraged to check NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center and local forecast updates for real-time aurora visibility conditions.
