Knoxville, TN – Residents across the Tennessee Valley could see a rare natural light show tonight as the Northern Lights may again appear under clear skies. The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center reports that G3–G4-level geomagnetic storm activity continues across the Northern Hemisphere, pushing the Aurora Borealis unusually far south — including into parts of Tennessee, northern Alabama, and north Georgia.
According to the National Weather Service in Morristown, skies will remain mostly clear through tonight, with excellent visibility across the Cumberland Plateau, eastern Tennessee, and northern Alabama. The best viewing window will be from 8 p.m. to midnight, facing north and away from major light sources.
This week’s ongoing solar storm has already produced aurora sightings across Kentucky, Virginia, and the Carolinas, and with calm, cool conditions in place, the Tennessee Valley may get another chance to join the show.
Temperatures tonight will dip into the 40s and low 50s, making for comfortable skywatching before clouds begin to increase late Thursday. Warmer air returns this weekend, with highs in the 70s expected by Saturday.
If skies remain clear, tonight could offer one of the best Northern Lights viewing opportunities in years for the Tennessee Valley — a rare event for Southern stargazers.
