Columbus, OH – Residents across the Ohio Valley could see a rare glimpse of the Northern Lights Monday night into Tuesday as a strong solar storm targets Earth, according to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center.
The agency has issued a G3 (Strong) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Monday, December 9, following a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun’s surface on December 6. The charged particles are expected to reach Earth early to midday Monday, heightening the chance of auroral activity across the northern United States.
NOAA forecasters say auroras could extend unusually far south, becoming visible in parts of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia, especially in dark-sky areas away from city lights. Under ideal weather conditions, residents near Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, and Louisville might spot faint green or purple glows along the northern horizon.
While G3 storms can cause minor satellite and power fluctuations, NOAA emphasizes the primary impact for the public will be visual — a rare chance to witness the aurora borealis in regions that seldom experience it. Viewing is expected to peak late Monday night through early Tuesday morning.
For the latest timing and sky conditions, residents should monitor NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center and local forecast updates.
