Thanksgiving Solar Storm Brings Rare Northern Lights Viewing Opportunity Across U.S.

A geomagnetic storm caused by a solar eruption may make the aurora borealis visible in parts of the northern United States through Thursday night and Friday morning.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm watch for Thanksgiving night and a G2 (Moderate) watch for Friday, increasing chances of aurora visibility.
The northern lights could be visible in northern states such as Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine, with lower chances in parts of Idaho, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire.
The auroras result from a coronal mass ejection (CME) that erupted from the sun on November 25, sending charged particles toward Earth and interacting with its magnetic field.
Viewing is best between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time in dark areas away from city lights, though cloud cover in some regions may limit visibility.
This increased auroral activity is tied to the sun's solar maximum phase, which is expected to continue through 2025, offering more frequent chances to see the phenomenon.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel