A geomagnetic storm watch has been issued for the early stages of the week, but could the Northern Lights be visible in the Chicago area?
The NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a Class G3 geomagnetic storm watch for Monday night after a coronal mass ejection from the sun over the weekend, sending charged particles hurtling through space and toward the Earth.
Once those particles interact with Earth’s magnetosphere, it could cause a Northern Lights display, and a G3-level storm could make that show visible as far south as Illinois and the central Midwest.
The question is, will area residents be able to see it?
As a caveat, geomagnetic storm impacts are extremely hard to predict, with forecasts rapidly changing even as the event is taking place, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center.
The interaction of the charged particles and the Earth’s atmosphere would need to occur after the sun sets in the Northern Hemisphere, and it’s hard to project when exactly the bulk of those particles will arrive at Earth, forecasters warn.
In addition, clear skies are required to be able to see the Northern Lights in the first place, and that will be a big stumbling block for the Chicago area on Monday. Extensive cloud cover is expected to remain over the area into the evening hours on Monday and into Tuesday, and scattered showers and thunderstorms are also in the forecast.
The good news is that the sun is still emitting CME’s on a frequent basis, and with clearer skies expected in the forecast later this week, there’s always a possibility that another Northern Lights display could be possible.
As always, stay tuned to the NBC 5 Storm Team for all the latest weather and forecast updates, and check into NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center for geomagnetic storm watches and other useful weather information.
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