Minneapolis, Minn. – A rare opportunity to spot the Northern Lights may unfold for parts of the northern United States Saturday night as a moderate (G2) geomagnetic storm sweeps through Earth’s magnetic field. The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center reports heightened auroral activity extending farther south than usual, potentially into the northern tier of states.
According to NOAA forecasters, the storm was triggered by a coronal mass ejection earlier this week, combining with high-speed solar wind. With solar wind speeds topping 550 km/sec, auroral displays could be visible as far south as Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, and parts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, weather permitting.
Residents in rural areas away from city lights should look north after dark for the best viewing. NOAA notes a slight risk of controllable power fluctuations on electrical grids, but no widespread outages are expected. The storm’s effects may also briefly impact satellite communications.
Aurora activity is expected to remain elevated into early Sunday, though visibility will depend heavily on local cloud cover. Space weather alerts remain in effect, and updates will be issued as conditions change.
