Thanksgiving may be cool and rainy in many parts of the country, but solar storms could bring the northern lights to some areas in the U.S. Minor to moderate geomagnetic storms are expected on Thursday and Friday due to a filament eruption on Monday, sending high-energy plasma toward Earth. This could result in green, red, and purple lights in the night sky. The intensity and duration of the auroras depend on the strength of the solar storms, with some states more likely to see the lights than others. Clear conditions are best for viewing, but areas with cloudiness may limit visibility, especially in the Northeast and near the Great Lakes.
Unlike earlier this year, these solar storms are not expected to cause major disruptions to communication systems unless they are stronger than predicted. The aurora borealis is typically only seen at high altitudes, but intense solar storms can make them visible in more southern areas. These storms occur when eruptions from the sun send plasma clouds towards Earth, interacting with the magnetic field and upper atmosphere to create the radiant auroras. The sun is currently in a cycle of activity, with an expected peak next July, leading to a higher frequency of aurora sightings this year. Viewers hoping to catch a glimpse can track the latest activity and forecast on NOAA’s Aurora Dashboard.
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