Missed the Northern Lights last week? A strong-to-severe geomagnetic storm just arrived, bringing the possibility of aurora tonight
Oct 10, 2024 11:10AM ● By Content Editor
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - October 10, 2024
Cross your fingers for clear skies this weekend because there may be a chance of seeing the northern lights (for those of us in the Cook County and Grand Portage area).
On October 9, the sun produced a large Coronal Mass Ejection (CME), which, according to NASA, are "large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun’s corona." The CME has arrived and could possibly produce northern lights. Because of this, the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has issued a G4 (Severe) Geomagnetic Storm Watch until October 11. As of 10 am this morning, the SWPC has issued a G3 (Strong) Geomagnetic Storm warning, with the possibility of a G4 or G5. The G4 (Severe) Geomagnetic Storm Watch is still in effect.
According to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, auroral activity will be high (+++) for the next couple of days, with a first quarter moon (Cook County is assigned a KP of 4-5).
Graph: University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute
As for timing, a safe bet is to download the "My Aurora Forecast and Alerts" app, available for Apple and Android. It is a free resource that alerts you as to when the Auroras might be visible in your area. Another useful resource is the Facebook Group Upper Midwest Aurora Chasers.
Of course, aurora prediction is difficult, and there is always some uncertainty. Your best bet is to get somewhere with little light pollution and keep your eyes on the sky.
Happy aurora hunting!
To learn more about viewing the northern lights in Cook County, check out this link from Visit Cook County.
(Editor's note: Boreal Community Media is not affiliated with any of the resources listed above. The views and opinions shared in the Facebook group, its members or administrators, and creators and staff behind the Aurora app, do not necessarily reflect those held by Boreal Community Media.)
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