According to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, a sighting of the Northern Lights may be possible around Western Washington Monday night.
On Saturday, a solar flare was detected coming off the sun and was heading toward Earth, where it was expected to arrive Monday afternoon. Scientists estimate the magnitude at a G2 level on a 5-point scale, with G1 being minor and G5 being extreme.
According to NOAA, the flare will have minimal effects on Earth, with possibly some power grid fluctuations on the surface and an increase in drag on satellites in low orbit. Furthermore, solar flares have no effect on human health.
Solar flares, on the other hand, can cause spectacular displays of the Northern Lights. The only question is whether the storm will be strong enough to bring sightings this far south and whether the skies will be clear enough to see them.
A G2 storm has been known to produce aurora sightings as far south as Washington. And skies in Western Washington appear to be clear for the majority of the night, though high clouds may move in from the west after midnight.
The best way to spot the lights is to get away from city lights and find a spot with a clear view of the northern horizon. Depending on the strength of the display, lights may appear as a faint green or milky haze. If the storm intensifies, more dazzling greens and purples may be visible with only your eyes, assuming they’ve adjusted to the darkness.
Bring a camera, set it to long exposure, and hold it steady, and the lights will shine through. Remember that cameras are better than human eyes at picking up the color at night, so photos of the aurora you see on social media may not match what you see in the same location.
If you decide to go outside, bring a jacket – or two! Monday night is shaping up to be the coldest of the season, with temperatures dropping into the 40s after sunset and dropping to the 30s by daybreak.
Frost advisories are in effect for parts of the South Sound and Cascade foothills, where lows may fall to or near freezing.
Ricky Head is Editor in Chief and Publisher of VietShowNow. He brings over 20 years of experience as a columnist, reporter, and photo journalist. In addition to concert coverage, he is a Content Creator, Writer, Photographer, and Videographer based in Seattle, Washington, and he photographs hundreds of concerts, festivals, and events each year. He takes pride in providing rich, high-quality images at a rapid pace.
- Ricky Headhttps://www.vietshownow.com/author/head/
- Ricky Headhttps://www.vietshownow.com/author/head/
- Ricky Headhttps://www.vietshownow.com/author/head/
- Ricky Headhttps://www.vietshownow.com/author/head/
