A Rare ‘Severe’ Solar Storm Could Bring The Northern Lights To Parts Of The United States

CMEs are expected to merge and arrive at Earth late Friday through Sunday

For the first time since 2005, a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch has been issued by the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center.

A series of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are expected to merge and arrive at Earth late Friday night and persist through Sunday.

Tomorrow Nights Static Viewline Forecast

This means there is a good chance the northern lights will be visible across the northern United States. This also means it is possible to see them low on the horizon in the Carolinas!

G4 Watch May 9 2024

Note: These events are very hard to forecast and do not always pan out.

For the Carolinas, when the Kp Index reaches a 7 or above, we have a chance. The forecast right now is an 8. If this plays out, being in a very dark place with a clear view of the northern horizon is your best chance to see them Friday or Saturday evening.