The Aurora Borealis are typically confined to parts of Alaska, which means for those of us here in the U.S., the opportunity to see them is somewhat rare.
Well, until now, that is.
It has been reported that, in some select areas of the country, the northern lights will be visible. Keep scrolling to find out if your area is one of them...
The northern lights are an otherworldly experience.
The phenomenon, also known as Aurora Borealis, is actually created by bursting sunspots that push solar wind through our solar system.
The charged particles then enter the Earth’s atmosphere....
And the collision creates what looks like a magical display of dancing purple and green lights across the sky.It’s something most want to see in person at least once in their lives...
via: Shutterstock
But, for us here in the U.S, the extraordinary event can typically only be seen in certain parts of Alaska, which can be a trek for travelers outside the often inclement region.However, the northern lights have been known to move down southward...
And we don’t mean just Alaska. https://t.co/DoZwfD8nrx— matadornetwork (@matadornetwork)1551294079.0
What makes a northern light appear in the south?
Watching and waiting now for our solar storm. I think we'll have to get real lucky to see aurora this far south, b… https://t.co/DXKHPhnrNP— Space Weather Watch (@Space Weather Watch)1607528125.0
@spacewxwatch @JohnFugelsang Living in Manitoba puts me in great position for viewing aurora, even in the city. It… https://t.co/hFk0LyjSav— LindaRae (@LindaRae)1607557593.0
@Amandaa_126 @spacewxwatch That's probably one of the best places....get away from town into the BWCA.— Aerial Imagery Media (@Aerial Imagery Media)1607565017.0
@13thgenusa @spacewxwatch NYC is way to bright I would think. I love NYC though! If you can drive just north of the… https://t.co/IFtAnb3nSi— KeepMovingForwardAlways (@KeepMovingForwardAlways)1607563011.0
@spacewxwatch One day.... I don’t expect to see them in Dallas but one say I will 🙏🏽— ChAse'Buddy'LoMein🍜 (@ChAse'Buddy'LoMein🍜)1607560217.0
@spacewxwatch Here in Northern MI. Waiting to see it. So exciting 😃🙏🏻— Berniegirl (@Berniegirl)1607577192.0
@Peace247 @spacewxwatch Usually when it’s darkest. Around midnight.— it takes a village idiot (@it takes a village idiot)1607578459.0
@spacewxwatch Hoping we can see it just north of Billings Montana 🤞🏼— E (@E)1607571191.0
@MacwantstoBtl @spacewxwatch Some place with less light pollution. Maybe drive north on route 8 until it’s dark.— Jonathan Hochman, MSc. (@Jonathan Hochman, MSc.)1607578896.0
The SWPC has issued G1, G2, and G3 geomagnetic storms for tonight, December 10th.
As @SNHWx mentions, you'll want to get away from city lights, be able to see low down to the horizon towards the no… https://t.co/kM3MWJFUON— Space Weather Watch (@Space Weather Watch)1607528291.0
The diagram shared by SWPC is a measure of the solar activity hitting Earth's atmosphere.
via: Getty Images
Which results in beautiful auroral displays.When strong bursts of energy from coronal mass ejection (CME) arrives, it can often cause these unusual sightings where you wouldn't expect...
via: Getty Images
Like here in the U.S.Although the sightings are only forecasts and not guarantees.
via: Getty Images
"While SWPC forecasters are fairly confident in CME arrival at Earth, timing and geomagnetic storm intensity are less certain," the center wrote in its alert.The SWPC hasn't released a map of the possible areas like it usually does...
Instead, using the September map, providing a little context for how far south you might be able to see the lights.But where can we see them?!
We're on the way north, on the hunt for the #NorthernLights tonight. Hoping for the best, but always with these eve… https://t.co/8XYltJqFQ0— Nick Stewart (@Nick Stewart)1607552117.0
The area around the yellow line on the September map indicates where it will be the strongest....
Although Alaska and northern Canada aren't strangers to the beautiful display.
The map also includes parts of Connecticut, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.Those are all possibilities if we're lucky.
WOW! A G3 (Strong) Geomagnetic Storm Watch (Kp=7) was issued by NOAA/@NWSSWPC for the impending coronal mass ejecti… https://t.co/EyL1qhieFQ— Space Weather Watch (@Space Weather Watch)1607441243.0