Overview
- NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center projects G1 geomagnetic storm conditions overnight Dec. 31–Jan. 1 from a CME that followed a Dec. 28 M4.2 solar flare, with a recurrent high‑speed solar wind stream also in play.
- An updated NOAA viewline map indicates potential visibility across the northern tier of the U.S., with chances extending into parts of states such as Iowa and Wyoming depending on conditions.
- The U.K. Met Office expects fast winds from a coronal hole to intensify the auroral oval from Dec. 31 into Jan. 1, offering the best chances in Scotland, Northern England, Northern Ireland and North Wales.
- Exact timing and latitude reach remain uncertain and hinge on live solar‑wind parameters, so officials advise monitoring real‑time alerts and short‑term forecasts.
- Best viewing is typically late evening to early morning from dark, north‑facing locations, though bright moonlight may mute faint displays and photography can reveal more than the eye.