Energized particles sent blasting from the Sun over the weekend are forecast to arrive within Earth’s atmosphere by Tuesday, bringing with them the potential to see the Northern Lights in places such as New York.
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center issued a Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Tuesday after a coronal mass ejection (CME) happened early Sunday.
Space weather forecasters say the CME influences should arrive by midday Tuesday and will likely cause moderate geomagnetic storming effects.
The impacts could linger into Wednesday, likely dropping to minor geomagnetic storm levels.
When a barrage of electrons smashes into Earth following a solar event like a coronal mass ejection, the electrons interact with particles in Earth’s magnetic field, creating vivid displays known as the Aurora Borealis.
While auroras are best seen in the polar regions, stronger solar events can produce Northern Lights farther south.
Because of Tuesday’s solar storm, space weather forecasters say the Northern Lights could be visible in the northern U.S., including New York.
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