Huge Solar Storm Could Bring Northern Lights Back to New York State

Astronomers say that the Aurora Borealis might once again be seen as far south as New York state in the coming days. If you feel like you've read this headline a number of times this year, then you're certainly not alone. The reason for the increased displays is that our Sun is nearing the peak in its 11-year annual cycle.

*** Update: A G4 Geomagnetic Storm Watch is in effect with October 10-11 reaching severe levels. This is the first G4 watch since the May 10-11th Geomagnetic Storm ***

Back in May, the strongest geomagnetic storm in almost twenty years brought vivid Northern Lights to skies above New York, and even all the way down to Florida. The Auroras turned the night skies a combination of glowing colors from May 10 to May 12, as part of a rare G5 geomagnetic storm, according to Space.

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Since then, there have been other nights where the ghostly glowing lights were visible in New York, though these were slightly weaker displays.

While the Northern (and Southern) Lights are usually only seen in Earth's higher latitudes, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the current cycle of solar storms will peak by May 2025, which could make the lights a more frequent occurrence in states as far south as New York.

Huge Solar Storm Could Bring Northern Lights Back to New York State

The Space Weather Prediction Center reports that very strong solar flares have been erupting from the Sun's surface since ealry October. The disturbances have been some of the strongest flares thus far during the current solar cycle, with May's huge geomagnetic storm being the biggest, reports NASA.

If the Auroras do indeed return to areas as far south as New York, astronomers say they could arrive by this week.

What Are the Northern Lights? 

The Sun's solar winds send particles through space and towards the Earth at millions of miles per hour. The Earth's magnetic field deflects the solar wind, stretching the field until it sort of snaps these charged particles back down toward the planet.

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Once these particles collide with the gases in our atmosphere, they begin to glow in a variety of ghostly displays and colors, according to the Canadian Space Agency.