Increased geomagnetic storm activity this week is giving residents of North Jersey a better-than-average chance of witnessing the Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a geomagnetic storm watch, forecasting the presence of the Northern Lights in the sky. The storm is a result of two observed coronal mass ejections on Tuesday, including a massive X7.1 solar flare.
The Northern Lights are a natural light display caused when electrically charged particles from space enter Earth's atmosphere and collide with molecules and gases like oxygen and nitrogen. This interaction creates a stunning display of rays, spirals, and flickers that glow in hues of green, red, blue, and pink. The stronger the solar storm, the farther south the Northern Lights can be seen.
According to the USA Today, the Northern Lights are expected to be visible in multiple northern U.S. states from October 3 through October 5. Sightings are forecasted along the U.S.-Canada border, but also as far south as Oregon to Pennsylvania. The best time to view the auroras will be around midnight local time going into the early hours of the following day.
The NOAA's Aurora Dashboard provides a prediction of the aurora’s visibility tonight and tomorrow night. The sun is currently approaching the peak of Solar Cycle 25, in which more sunspots with intense magnetic activity are expected. This makes electromagnetic activity and, consequently, the Northern Lights a more common occurrence.
Residents of many North Jersey communities have already posted photos of the lights this week on social media sites. The National Weather Service says the likelihood of Northern Lights activity will increase through tonight and tomorrow night.