Idatarod

In this Friday, March 13, 2015, Jason Mackey arrives in Huslia, Alaska, under the northern lights in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The northern lights may be visible from New Jersey tonight.

(AP Photo/Alaska Dispatch News, Loren Holmes))

A severe geomagnetic storm currently affecting Earth was responsible for some beautiful displays of aurora borealis early this morning as far south as Illinois. If the storm continues and skies continue to clear, there's a possibility that portions of the Garden State could be treated with a rare visit by the "Northern Lights."

Geomagnetic storms most commonly occur when the sun releases massive bursts of gas and magnetic field, called coronal mass ejections (CME), which can cause disruptions in the planet's magnetosphere when they come in contact with Earth. According to forecasters at the Space Weather Prediction Center (an arm of NOAA), a pair of CMEs released from the sun on March 15 are likely responsible for the current storm, which is the most severe the planet has seen in the current solar cycle.

Such a storm can have impacts on flight communications, GPS navigation systems and can cause unpredictable behavior on power grids. Thus far, there do not appear to be any significant impacts in New Jersey.

The aurora visibility forecast for early this afternoon. If the solar storm continues, the northern lights may be visible in New Jersey tonight.

Solar storms can also paint the skies with beautiful displays of aurora borealis. Space weather forecasters suggest the geomagnetic storm may continue for another 12 hours, and, at peak intensity would make it possible for auroras to be seen in New Jersey.

The National Weather Service said skies are expected to clear tonight, which would buoy the chances of seeing the northern horizon potentially painted in greens, blues and purples.

All that said, the chances remain fairly low for an appearance of aurora in the Garden State, but it may be worth a peek tonight as there is so rarely any chance at all.

Best chance to view

Chances of viewing an aurora would increase the farther north you are in New Jersey. Extremely dark areas away from city lights are best. Find an unobstructed view of the northern horizon and hope for clear skies.

Current updates on the solar storm are available from SpaceWeather.com and the Space Weather Prediction Center.



Stephen Stirling may be reached at sstirling@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @sstirling. Find him on Facebook.