Friday evening into Saturday morning presents a promising opportunity to witness the northern lights, with the Space Weather Prediction Center forecasting what could be the most potent geomagnetic storm since 2003.
Typically visible in higher latitudes, the aurora borealis, also known as polar or northern lights, is associated with large geomagnetic storms triggered by solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These events occur when around a billion tons of plasma from the sun, along with its embedded magnetic field, interact with Earth.
Describing auroras as a means for most humans to observe space weather, the center highlights their significance.
The National Weather Service in Billings and Great Falls indicated on social media a favorable chance of northern lights viewing, with clear skies and temperatures ranging in the 30s and 40s.
The optimal viewing window suggested by the Great Falls NWS is between 10 p.m. Friday night and 2 a.m. Saturday morning, extending from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. with potential sightings. Recommendations include moving away from city lights, gazing northward, and maintaining patience.
The center reports at least seven earth-directed CMEs contributing to a severe G4 geomagnetic storm, the second strongest category under extreme G5 storms. The last time the center monitored a storm of this magnitude was in 2005, with the last occurrence observed in 2003.
While technical issues such as GPS and power grid disruptions are possible outcomes of the storm, critical infrastructure operators have been notified.
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