Are we in for a 2024 Aurora Borealis repeat? We’re crossing our fingers for a gorgeous glow.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the northern lights could very well shine above NYC this evening, along with 23 other states. Per The New York Times, the display will reach further south than usual and it will appear across the country, giving most of the U.S. a chance to catch Mother Nature at her finest. (No trip to Iceland, needed.)
If you’re planning on being a night owl, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about snagging a peek at the spectacle.
NYC northern lights tonight — what you need to know
See your timers for midnight — when the Aurora Borealis is expected to peak.
According to NOAA and other sources like Space.com, we’re most likely to see something stunning from 1am – 4pm. (Make sure to order a generous size coffee on your way to work.) Per The Times, those in the Mid-Atlantic states, with the exception of Pennsylvania, won’t have to work with overly cloudy conditions, making it even easier to see what the sky has in store for us. Those who are in Upstate, New York might not be quite as lucky, unfortunately.
What has truly piqued our interest is the magnitude of the geomagnetic storm. Per NOAA, this particular occurrence on January 19th and 20th an S4 storm, which is incredibly rare — the last time we saw something similar was October 2003 — and it can pose an enhanced risk to satellites and loss of over-the-horizon high-frequency communications in polar regions.
So, what is S4 in technical terms? NOAA defines it as “when charged particles are accelerated by processes at or near the Sun and arrive in enough quantity at Earth.”
All in all, here’s hoping we some something spectacular in the wee hours of the morning!