Ringing in 2025 with northern lights? A geomagnetic storm watch has been issued for December 31
Dec 31, 2024 10:10AM ● By Content Editor
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - December 31, 2024
Cross your fingers for clear skies this weekend because there may be a chance of seeing the northern lights while we ring in 2025 (for those of us in the Cook County and Grand Portage area).
On December 29, 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 G3 (Strong) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for December 31.
The moon phase is in our favor with a new moon, however, clouds are forecasted. If skies clear, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute predicts auroral activity could be high (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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