Slim chance for northern lights in some states due to 'high speed stream' from Sun
(NEXSTAR) — Some across the U.S. may again have a chance to see the northern lights Tuesday night as material hurled out by the sun reaches Earth.
After a coronal hole high speed stream, or CH HSS, was spotted on the sun on Friday, NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center warned that lower-level geomagnetic storm conditions could appear on Earth Tuesday or Wednesday.
A fast-moving coronal mass ejection, or CME, connected to that CH HSS, which was spotted Friday, gave parts of the U.S. the chance to see the northern lights on Sunday.
Those same areas look to have at least a chance to see the aurora on Tuesday as the CH HSS impacts Earth. The SWPC had already issued an alert on Monday, forecasting G2, or moderate, geomagnetic storm conditions for Tuesday.
While the activity could bring some "mainly manageable effects to some technological infrastructure," your more likely to encounter a glimmer of the northern lights.
Forecasting shows geomagnetic storming conditions are expected to peak through 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday. That could change as conditions change, however.
For now, those closest to the Canadian border have the best chance to catch the aurora Tuesday night, according to the SWPC's forecast, seen below.
Those in red have the highest odds while those in green have lower odds. Areas at or above the red view line may also be able to see the northern lights on the northern horizon.
As the image above shows, Alaska and Canada have the best odds of catching the northern lights. Still, those in Washington, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and northern portions of Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine may be able to see the aurora on the northern horizon.
While the SWPC previously warned conditions could carry into Wednesday, the current forecast shows storming conditions may not be strong enough to bring the northern lights deep into the Lower 48. At least a portion of many of the same states — Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine — are within the view line of SWPC's forecast for Wednesday, seen below.
If you’re in the shaded areas above, but can’t see the northern lights with your naked eye when you step outside, you may instead want to use your phone. Our smartphones are better able to see some of the faint colors that may appear with the northern lights, giving you a chance to glimpse the aurora.