Northern Illinois residents might see a rare, beautiful sky display this weekend. The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has put out a severe geomagnetic storm watch. This makes many hopes for a special showing of the aurora borealis or Northern Lights far south at the mid-latitudes.

Solar Activity Causing Geomagnetic Warning

Sunspot AR 3664 has been very active over two days, firing off numerous coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These big bursts of magnetized plasma allow auroras to be seen far from their typical polar areas. The recent string of CMEs made the SWPC issue a G4-level geomagnetic storm watch for tonight and early Saturday morning. This level it called “severe “means the Northern Lights might be visible as far down as central Illinois and Oregon.

Best Times and Conditions to View

If residents want to see this natural light show, they should keep this in mind,

• Top Viewing Times, try viewing between 1 AM and 4 AM, but note that weather changes might affect these times.
• Weather Effect, light rain showers will arrive today with a weak system passing over the western Great Lakes area from 7 PM and 11 PM. Luckily, forecasts predict clear skies by Saturday morning for better viewing of auroras.
• More Chances to View, an additional chance to see the Northern Lights may come late Saturday into Sunday morning. Clearer skies would improve your chance

The Impact Beyond Beautiful Skies

A severe geomagnetic storm could cause more effects than just beautiful night views,

• GPS Systems, The GPS could be off during the storm.
• Satellite Communication, the storm can cause interruptions to satellite communications, which could affect TV broadcasts and internet use.
• Electricity grids, power grids at higher latitudes can face fluctuations and even outages during strong geomagnetic activity.

Why This Storm is Unique

The geomagnetic storm happening soon stands out for these reasons,

• CMEs Size and How Often They Occur, the storm includes multiple strong CMEs happening quickly one after another an event seen not too often.
• Previous Watches, the SWPC last issued a severe geomagnetic storm watch almost 20 years ago in January 2005.
• Increased Chance of Northern Lights Visible More South, the expected Kp index, a key global geomagnetic activity indicator, is expected to reach an impressive level of 8. This makes it likely the auroras will be visible far south as Alabama.

What We Know from Past Events

• Past Severe Storms, Since December 2019, when the current solar cycle started, only three severe storms have occurred. The most intense recent storm was in October 2003 causing power outages in Sweden and damaging power infrastructure in South Africa.
• Northern Lights Visibility, normally a Kp index of just 5 is needed for Northern Lights to show in northern areas. This weekend’s expected index of 8 predicts a more mesmerizing display over much bigger areas.
  

Tips for Viewing and Keeping Safe If you want to view the Northern Lights, keep these tips handy, you might find useful these tips,

• Checking Weather Updates, keep an eye on local weather reports to make sure clear skies are predicted when you want to view.
• Safety Glasses, the glasses you have from recent solar eclipse events, if any, can be used during the day for safely observing phenomena like sunspots.
• Picking a Spot, to have the best experience possible, find a location free of city light pollution. Open countryside areas make great spots for viewing this natural spectacle.

Final Words

This weekend brings a rare chance for Illinois residents to see one of nature’s most entrancing scenes the Northern Lights. While the storm might cause disruptive effects, it also offers a beautiful moment that shows the powerful link between Earth and solar forces impacting our space weather. As we approach the weekend, SWPC updates will give more information about opportunities to view and potential impacts from this extraordinary geomagnetic event.