Raleigh, NC – Another round of northern lights could glow over North Carolina skies tonight, though increasing clouds may make the spectacle harder to spot.
According to the US National Weather Service Raleigh and the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, a G3 to G4 geomagnetic storm is forecast for Wednesday night into early Thursday. The event follows a rare G4-level storm last night that lit skies as far south as Florida — a nearly once-in-a-decade sight.
Forecasters expect clear skies early in the evening from 5 p.m. to midnight, but thick high-level clouds are predicted to roll into the Triad and Triangle regions between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. By dawn, much of Central and Northern North Carolina could see overcast conditions, reducing aurora visibility.
The NOAA aurora forecast map shows the southern edge of potential aurora visibility dipping into the Carolinas, meaning northern lights may again be visible low on the northern horizon, especially in rural and darker areas before midnight.
Residents hoping to catch the show are advised to find dark, unobstructed views of the northern sky and check local forecasts for cloud updates.
