A geomagnetic storm warning has been issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for parts of the US this Friday and Saturday night. The storm, which is expected to reach a G2 level in strength, may bring the northern lights as far south as Idaho and New York.
According to NOAA, the northern lights will be visible over Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. The best viewing times are just after sunset or just before sunrise, with the lights typically at their brightest from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. local time.
The northern lights form when particles from the solar wind excite atoms in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, causing them to glow. They can be observed from as far away as 1,000 km if conditions are right and the skies are clear of light pollution. The colors of the aurorae depend on the species of atoms being excited.
The current geomagnetic storm is caused by a corotating interaction region in the solar wind, which is resulting from a massive hole in the sun’s corona facing towards Earth. This event may bring the northern lights to areas that are not typically visible.
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/aurora-northern-lights-map-space-weather-usa-2085247