The Northern Lights May Be Visible Over North Carolina This Week Due To A Solar Storm
December’s magical celestial events just keep on coming – and after the year we’ve had… we’re excited to end the year on such a high note. In case you haven’t heard, a Christmas star will grace the skies over North Carolina later this month. But before that, tonight through Friday night we have a good chance at seeing the Northern Lights as far south as possibly even North Carolina, thanks to a geomagnetic solar storm taking place.
Areas as far south as the Tar Heel State could have a slight chance at a fantastic light show on December 9th, 10th, and maybe even the 11th (Friday).
The above map is a conservative prediction of where the lights may be visible, but the National Weather Service is not sure of the precise location, days, or times. We'll just have to wait and hope. Fortunately, since the first night is tonight, we won't have to wait for long!
The solar storm originates on the sun and affects the heliosphere, which in turn affects the Earth's magnetosphere.
In short, an ionization of particles in the air way out in space is the source of the different particles (electrons and protons) that emit the colors we see during the Northern Lights.
The combination of the solar storm and current weather conditions will mean much of the U.S. will get a glimpse at the Northern Lights this week.
Of course our sister state all the way to the northwestern side of North America (that's Alaska, by the way) is accustomed to seeing the Northern Lights.
In 2006, a writer for NCPedia sourced a report of seeing the Northern Lights in Mecklenburg County in October 1865. And in 2004, YouTube user Matt Robinson posted a nine-second video of the Northern Lights he captured in Raleigh.
Will we see them this week? That remains to be seen (or not be seen). Let's hope for YES.
Your best bet for getting a glimpse of the Northern Lights from North Carolina is to first find a viewing location that has little light pollution. And then just turn toward the north and set your gaze just above the horizon.
Have you ever seen the Northern Lights from North Carolina? We’d love to know so leave a comment (or even a photo) if you have!
Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. She's lived in the Carolinas for nearly three decades and currently resides in Charleston. When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. General questions and FAM tours: rjarvis@onlyinyourstate.com.
