For the last time before the New Year, the stunning colors of the Northern Lights may be visible to those living in… The northern frontier of America.
Solar storms, caused by two blasts of plasma toward Earth, could produce the northern lights as early as this week, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
“A flurry of activity occurred over the weekend of December 28-29, as active regions and (sunspot) clusters became unstable,” NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) reported.
Enjoy the northern lights in the United States and around the world with these viewing tips
Tonight might be the perfect opportunity to capture the dancing colors Night sky.
Alaska is one place to see the Northern Lights, especially if you watch them on New Year's Eve. (Getty Images)
“Shows a latitude representing the southernmost locations from which you can see the aurora on the northern horizon,” noted one tracker on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website.
Alaska, Washington, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine all have access to a spectacular light show.
A rare chance to see the northern lights may be possible this weekend due to a solar flare
While parts of Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois and even New York may get a slight view of the lights.
“The aurora borealis can often be observed somewhere on Earth just after sunset or “Just before sunrise” Noa reported.
“The aurora does not need to be directly overhead, but can be observed from up to 1,000 kilometers away when the aurora is bright and if conditions are right.”
A coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth's atmosphere Tuesday afternoon, leading to geomagnetic storm observations during the first day of the new year, FOX Weather reported.
The northern lights could be seen in some parts of the US this week after 'strong solar activity'
SWPC expects the geomagnetic storm to continue until Tuesday evening, when people will ring in the new year across the country.
The northern lights may reach some areas of Iowa on New Year's Eve. (Quad Cities NWS)
When it comes to seeing the northern lights, there are a few factors to consider in order to maximize your view – location, timing, geomagnetic activity, and darkness.
location
The most important thing when it comes to your location is to find a place with little to no obstructions.
“Aim to find a place with minimal tree lines or hills so… Northern horizon It can be seen in its entirety,” Fox News previously reported.
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timing
The best time to see the lights is late in the evening or early morning, and this is certainly the case on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
The Northern Lights were captured by the NWS office in Cariboo, Maine, and are one of the locations where you are expected to see the Northern Lights on New Year's Eve. (NWS via Fox Weather)
“The best aurora is typically within an hour or two of midnight (between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time),” according to the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).
“There may be twilight in the evening and morning, but it is usually not active and, therefore, not visually attractive.”
Geomagnetic activity
When the Earth's magnetic field is active The twilight will be brighter, Stronger and farther away from the magnetic poles, according to SWPC.
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The weather service website said the best time to see the northern lights is when the planetary index K is at eight or nine, and the aurora is moving toward the equator.
“Strong Level 3 out of 5 geomagnetic storms are possible Tuesday, and a minor Level 1 storm is expected on New Year's Day. However, meteorologists are considering upgrading the watch to Level 2,” FOX Weather reported. FOX Weather.
Ring in the New Year with a stunning Northern Lights light show on New Year's Eve. (Istock)
Darkness
In order to get the best possible view of the aurora borealis, find the darkest spot possible.
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“The full moon will also reduce the apparent brightness of the aurora (not the actual brightness),” SWPC continued.
You'll also need to make sure it's a clear night, with no clouds in the sky.
