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Northern Lights could dazzle the sky in parts of the US ahead of Fourth of July
FOX Weather • • general
Key Points:
- A powerful solar flare erupted on Tuesday, peaking around 4:50 p.m. EDT, causing strong (R3) radio blackouts and disrupting high-frequency radio communications across parts of North America.
- The flare produced a coronal mass ejection (CME), which is expected to trigger geomagnetic storms and bright auroras, potentially making the Northern Lights visible across parts of the northern U.S. and Upper Midwest on July 2 and 3.
- NOAA forecasts a Kp index of 5 for July 2 and 3, indicating the aurora could be seen farther south than usual, especially in states like Washington, Idaho, Montana, the Dakotas, northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Alaska.
- The best viewing time for the Northern Lights is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., with experts advising observers to find dark locations away from city lights and with clear views of the northern horizon.
