Could Illinoisans catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights? Elevated chances due to an uncommon space storm.

 

A seldom-seen intense geomagnetic storm alert from space hints at a potential opportunity for Chicago residents to witness the Northern Lights this weekend. However, amidst the awe-inspiring prospect, the storm's effects might disrupt navigation systems, radio communications, and the power grid.

As per the Space Weather Prediction Center, between Friday and Sunday, there's an expectation of at least five "coronal mass ejections" originating from the Sun. The sunspot cluster responsible for these flares measures 16 times the size of Earth.

If you kept your glasses from the recent solar eclipse, you might be able to spot the sunspot using them, even though those spots are a staggering 93 million miles away. 

A coronal mass ejection signifies a burst of solar material. According to the center, severe-level watches are exceptionally uncommon. This marks Earth's first severe (G-4) watch since 2005.

What exactly are the Northern Lights? Well, they're a dazzling phenomenon caused by energized particles from the Sun colliding with the Earth's atmosphere. This collision may lead to sightings as far south as Alabama this weekend. Dubbed the Aurora Borealis, this dynamic interaction produces stunning, undulating ribbons of light painting the sky.

The chances of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights in Chicago over the weekend are promising. Following a rainy Friday, clear skies are anticipated. The prediction center anticipates the storm's arrival by early Saturday, suggesting that the Northern Lights could potentially be visible before sunrise on Saturday.

For optimal viewing, it's advisable to venture away from the city to evade light pollution.

How uncommon are geomagnetic storms? Since December 2019, only three severe geomagnetic storms have been recorded. Nevertheless, these storms didn't pose any significant threat to Earth. 

The most recent extreme storm took place in October 2003, resulting in power outages in Sweden and damaging power transformers in South Africa.