PORTLAND, Ore. — The northern lights may be visible over Oregon and Washington this Halloween weekend.
The eruption of a massive solar flare on Thursday directed at Earth will provide the energy necessary to spark a geomagnetic storm strong enough to produce the aurora borealis show, potentially as far south as Northern California.
(Photo credit: Northern Lights on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021 from Lyle, Wash.; Teresa Herlinger)
The U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a class G3, or strong, geomagnetic storm watch for Saturday, Oct. 30, and a moderate watch for Sunday, Oct. 31.
That, along with a few other factors, may make this Halloween weekend more memorable for how Mother Nature dresses up the night sky than for any costume you might see. There'll be a clear sky, the phase of the moon is favorable, and it’s a weekend. That’s a rare combination of factors that will allow a lot of people to see the Aurora Borealis for the first time.
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While the strong, earth-directed geomagnetic storm is very promising, It's not a guarantee the Northwest will get a show.
Timing will be important. It’s possible that the aurora may go off during daylight hours over North America, and not during nighttime when the lights would be visible.
What to know
- Stay up late or set your alarm: the best chances to see the lights will be around or after midnight on Saturday night.
- Get away from city lights and look north. You don’t need to go far, just anywhere where the view to the north isn’t toward a big source of light.
- If you strike out Saturday nights, there’s another, although small chance the lights will be visible Sunday night, on Halloween.
Take photos or video of the lights? Submit them to KGW!