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Cool and rainy weather on Thanksgiving may be overshadowed by the possibility of viewing the northern lights in the U.S. Minor to moderate geomagnetic storms are expected on Thursday and Friday, following a filament eruption on Monday that sent high-energy plasma towards Earth. States such as Washington, Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine, as well as parts of Idaho, Wyoming, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire, have a chance of seeing the aurora borealis during this holiday weekend.
Whether the auroras will be visible and how bright they will appear depends on the strength of the solar storms, with forecasts predicting minor (G1) and moderate (G2) geomagnetic storms. The NOAA’s Aurora Dashboard provides updated information on the activity and forecast of the northern lights, helping viewers track their intensity and visibility.
Clear weather conditions are best for viewing the bright lights, with cloudiness potentially limiting visibility in some areas. While previous solar storms earlier this year caused disruptions to communication systems, this event is not expected to have a significant impact unless the storms intensify beyond predictions. Solar storms occur when coronal mass ejections from the sun interact with Earth’s magnetic field and upper atmosphere, creating the colorful auroras.
The sun is currently approaching a peak in its 11-year activity cycle, leading to increased chances of northern lights sightings at lower latitudes. Overall, while Thanksgiving weather may be cool and rainy for many, the potential viewing of the northern lights offers a unique and awe-inspiring natural phenomenon for some in the U.S.
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