A potential display of the Northern Lights may be visible over the Chicago area this week as a result of multiple coronal mass ejections. The National Weather Service’s Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a geomagnetic storm watch following the reported CME’s over the weekend. The arrival of these CME’s, expected beginning Tuesday morning and lasting into Thursday, could create a G3 geomagnetic storm, making the Northern Lights visible across the northeastern United States and other northern areas of the country. However, there are some challenges to seeing the display, as arrival times are difficult to predict and may coincide with daylight hours in the Western Hemisphere. Additionally, a series of showers and thunderstorms are expected to impact the Chicago area later on Tuesday and Wednesday, potentially blocking out the Northern Lights due to cloud cover.
For those interested in catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights, Monday night and early Tuesday morning may present the best opportunity. Officials recommend finding darker areas with an unobstructed view of the northern horizon for optimal viewing. While the chance to witness this natural phenomenon is promising, the unpredictable nature of CME’s and the possibility of weather interference present challenges to those hoping to see the Northern Lights in the Chicago area this week.
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