Major solar storm could bring the Northern Lights to New York — and chaos to satellite systems

A strong geomagnetic storm unleashed by multiple magnetic eruptions on the Sun means many Americans in the Lower 48 could be treated to quite a spectacle late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, as the Northern Lights could glimmer across much of the northern U.S. – perhaps as far south as Kentucky.

The Northern Lights are produced by geomagnetic storms, or phenomena in which waves of particles from the Sun cause a disturbance in the magnetic field that envelops our planet.

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center issued a Geomagnetic Storm Warning for a “strong” G3 level event on the geomagnetic storm scale for early Wednesday morning.

The scale goes up to G5.

Those interested in watching the Northern Lights late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning can check the forecast below to see whether clouds could get in the way for the show.

Americans in cities, such as Frankfort, Kentucky, and Chicago, will have some of the clearest skies. 

Unfortunately, clouds will reign supreme over Pennsylvania and much of the Northeast. 

The most vivid sights of the Northern Lights will take place over the Rockies and Western U.S. right before sunrise, according to FOX Forecast Center Meteorologist Christopher Tate. 

The best way to see the aurora is to find a place away from city lights with a clear view of the northern horizon.

The lights will show up better on camera, especially with a few seconds’ exposure.

But strong displays are still visible with just your eyes.

In addition to creating the Northern Lights, the G3 geomagnetic storm has the potential to interrupt radio frequencies and cause some satellite navigation problems.

After the initial geomagnetic storm level of G3, the SWPC said the storm will decrease to a G1 on Thursday and then below G1 by Friday.