Some parts of the U.S. are in for a witchy sky this Halloween weekend. Thanks to a solar flare and a “coronal mass ejection” (a release of the sun’s plasma) on Thursday, the Aurora borealis could be visible in regions of the United States and Europe on Saturday and Sunday.
The solar flare and ejection will lead to a G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center. Such a powerful storm can push the Aurora farther away from the North Pole, where it can usually be seen.
The NOAA predicts that the Northern lights may be seen over the far Northeast, the upper Midwest, and Washington state. Specific states like Montana, Michigan, and Wisconsin are preparing for a unique sight, as well, NBC News reported.
The Northern lights are the effect of electrically-charged particles from the sun interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere. This is why they’re usually above the Earth’s magnetic poles, the North (Aurora borealis) and South (Aurora australis).
Given this storm, however, you may not have to travel to see them at all. Milwaukee’s National Weather Service predicts a “ghostly green glow.” Spooky!
