Milwaukee, WI – Residents of Wisconsin and New York may witness the aurora borealis tonight as a strong geomagnetic storm impacts Earth.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), the storm, caused by a coronal mass ejection from the sun on Tuesday, has reached a “Strong” G3 level. This means it has the potential to affect power grids, satellite operations, and radio communications. NOAA announced that the aurora borealis could be visible along the northern horizon in states like Wisconsin and New York, especially if the storm intensifies.
Friday night’s aurora forecast initially had a Kp index of four, but NOAA has since raised it to six, indicating a greater likelihood of the lights being visible farther south from the poles. Observers in Canada and Alaska have the highest chance of seeing the aurora, but the lights may extend into the northern parts of the continental U.S.
Solar activity has been unusually high in recent months as the sun’s 11-year cycle approaches its peak, expected between late 2024 and early 2026. As sunspot activity intensifies, the frequency and strength of geomagnetic storms are likely to increase, bringing more opportunities to see the aurora borealis in unexpected places.
