The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, will be visible across 17 US states including Oregon, Washington, New York and Maine, due to a solar storm which will bring them further south than usual
This week, millions of Americans will be able to witness a spectacular celestial event not usually visible from their own back gardens as a strong solar storm is set to bring the Northern Lights further south than usual.
The solar storm has been forecast for Thursday, July 13, and will allow sky gazers in 17 states to catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis. Most often, the lights are seen in Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia – but an 11-year solar cycle expected to peak in 2024 is allowing those further south to see the lights.
Just three months ago, residents in Arizona were able to see the incredible light displays in the third severe geomagnetic storm since the current solar cycle began in 2019.
According to the Geophysical Insititute at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, states forecasted to see the amazing sight include: Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, Indiana, Maine and Maryland. The forecast also includes parts of Canada, including Vancouver.