Northern Lights Predicted Across U.S. and Europe for New Year's Eve

Solar storms from recent coronal mass ejections could bring rare aurora displays to mid-latitudes, with visibility dependent on weather and light pollution.

NOAA has issued a G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm watch for December 31 and a G1 (minor) watch for January 1, driven by two coronal mass ejections from the Sun on December 29.
The northern lights may be visible across 17 U.S. states, including as far south as Oregon, Illinois, and New York, as well as parts of the UK and northern Europe, depending on atmospheric conditions.
The best viewing times are late evening to early morning, with optimal visibility away from city lights and under clear skies; smartphone cameras may capture auroras not visible to the naked eye.
This event coincides with the Sun's solar maximum, an active phase in its 11-year cycle, which has already brought increased auroral activity throughout 2024 and is expected to continue into 2025.
Scientists caution that the intensity and timing of the auroras are difficult to predict precisely, as the CMEs are not expected to directly hit Earth, complicating forecasts.