The Northern Lights May Be Visible Over New York This Week Due To A Solar Storm

It's not every day that you get to witness one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. But this week, upstate New Yorkers might get the chance to do just that. The northern lights, which are bursts of solar energy that are typically only visible in places like Iceland, Norway, and the Arctic, might just be visible in upstate New York this week. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, New Yorkers could have a surprise in store.

New Yorkers who have always wanted to see the northern lights might finally get their chance to do that this week.

According to the National Weather Service, a solar storm could be visible from a large portion of the state of New York on Friday.

The lights, also know as Aurora Borealis, are caused by a burst of energy from the sun, which emits a cloud of gas that eventually reaches earth’s atmosphere in the form of the northern lights.

The northern lights could potentially be seen from every location north of the yellow line on this map, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center.

While the lights won’t be visible from New York City, people who live upstate might get a little window to observe the greatest light show on earth.

Across the country, only several northern states will likely be able to see the northern lights, including Washington, Montana, Wisconsin, and Maine. Luckily, New York is also on that list.

A G3 Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Thursday, Dec. 10 was issued by the SWPC. But the lights could potentially be seen as late as Friday.

Of course, it’s not often that you get to see them in upstate New York. So if you’re upstate this weekend, keep an eye out for one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

These predictions don't necessarily mean that the Northern Lights will be visible in New York this week. But given that it's such a rare prediction for this part of the globe, make sure to keep watch.