U.S. government scientists say there is a strong possibility the Aurora borealis, aka the Northern Lights, will be visible as far south as Oregon on Wednesday and Thursday nights.



The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a geomagnetic storm warning at a level G3, meaning strong, due to a coronal mass ejection on the sun Monday.

According to the Aurora Notify website, the Northern Lights will be visible throughout Canada and Alaska, and much of the northern United States -- including the Pacific Northwest and as far south as Utah -- over the next two nights. In Oregon, the forecast calls for clear skies with temperatures dipping into the mid-20s overnight.

There are plenty of places online to register to receive alerts or check for updated forecasts for when the Aurora peaks in your area, including the Aurora Service website, NOAA's space weather website and the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.



There are a number of popular star-gazing spots around northwest Oregon and southwest Washington, including L.L. Stub Stewart State Park, Vista House at Crown Point in the Columbia River Gorge or the Cascade Range in southern Oregon. In any case, look for an unobscured view of the northern horizon.

-- Stuart Tomlinson

stomlinson@oregonian.com

503-221-8313

@ORweather

Solar eruption may ring in New Year with massive Aurora Borealis display | https://t.co/ppzvePhlZI pic.twitter.com/2fMIGEvm4J — PNNL (@PNNLab) December 30, 2015