The heavens above the Great Lakes region are set to possibly deliver a celestial spectacle this week, as the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) of the National Weather Service anticipates the Northern Lights to potentially be observable over parts of Wisconsin and Michigan. This dramatic display is the result of a coronal mass ejection (CME) that burst forth from the sun on Sunday and is projected to reach Earth by Tuesday morning with impacts potentially extending into Wednesday.
Experts have issued a G2 geomagnetic storm watch after detecting the solar eruption. A G2, deemed a moderate storm on the space weather scale, could be strong enough to make the auroras visible across northern and upper Midwest states. Usually, to observe the Northern Lights as far south as the Chicago area, a G3 or greater geomagnetic storm is required, but the current projections do not seem to support such widespread visibility in this case. Earlier in the year, however, a G4 geomagnetic storm did provide Chicagoans a rare celestial treat, with stunning views of the Northern Lights spread across several nights, according to NBC Chicago.
The SWPC details a CME as an expansive outburst of plasma and magnetized particles from the sun's corona. These ejections grow in size as they approach Earth and can cause geomagnetic storms on their arrival. The colorful auroras are the byproduct of these charged particles hitting our planet's magnetic field, where they intermingle with atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere, leading to the brilliant light display.
According to MLive, NOAA forecasts indicate that the "elevated conditions are expected to persist into 09 Sep. G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storming is likely on 10 Sep due to the arrival of the aforementioned filament eruption that occurred early on 08 Sep." Meanwhile, those intrigued by the science behind this phenomenon can stay updated by regularly checking the Space Weather Prediction Center's forecast discussions, as they analyze the evolving event in real-time. The Center recently posted on social media, stating that the "CME influences from a filament eruption that occurred early on 8 Sep should arrive by midday on 10 Sep (UTC) and will likely cause moderate geomagnetic storming effects."
Residents in the northern regions near the Great Lakes should be prepared for the chance to witness the Northern Lights as this solar drama unfolds over the upcoming days. Those residing farther away, while might not be directly under the auroral oval, can continue to monitor the situation, as fluctuations in space weather can sometimes extend the reach of these enigmatic lights even further than initially anticipated.
