The Triangle may see northern lights soon. Here’s when to look up
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- NOAA and space outlets say northern lights may be possible over the Raleigh area.
- Best viewing window runs Thursday late afternoon through 1 a.m., with peak near midnight.
- Observers should seek dark, unobstructed skies or relocate if local cloud cover persists.
Along with snow in the forecast, a strong solar storm could light up skies in the Triangle on Thursday night.
The lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are an “eruption of solar material,” The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
The Raleigh area last saw northern lights last month.
We see those colors when energized electrons collide with the upper atmosphere, producing light displays that form roughly 50 to 300 miles above Earth. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says these lights are happening all the time, we just rarely catch them this far south.
Here’s what you need to know.
Northern lights Raleigh
According to space.com, the solar storm could be visible in 15 states. Though that list doesn’t include North Carolina, it comes with a caveat: “The list is based on current forecast data, but if conditions strengthen and skies are clear, auroras could reach much farther south than expected,” the website says.
The best window for viewing the storm is between 4 p.m. and 1 a.m. on Thursday evening, according to the NOAA.
NOAA has an experimental aurora forecast it updates daily, and there are smartphone apps that estimate the chance of seeing aurora based on your location. People have reported seeing northern lights even when forecasts show a low chance.
Northern lights viewing tips
For the best view of the northern lights, the NOAA suggests finding a clear, unobstructed view of the sky away from any light pollution.
Assuming the lights are still visible, the NOAA recommends catching a glimpse of them within an hour or two of midnight, when the best view will happen.
Raleigh nighttime sky forecast
Skies in the Triangle are expected to be mostly cloudy Thursday night, with a low of around 33 degrees, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.
According to Nordland Aurora, a photography company that specializes in photographing the northern lights, relocating can be your best bet if you happen to be in a cloudy area. The website also notes that sometimes the aurora can be seen through cloud cover.
