Will Tennessee see the Aurora Borealis tonight? Maybe here is the reason

Earth is facing another geomagnetic storm that could bring the northern lights to Tennessee once again, but it could hamper communications as millions continue to suffer the effects of two hurricanes.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center announced Wednesday that a “severe” G4-class geomagnetic storm is approaching, which has the potential to affect communications by interfering with radio signals and satellites. The effects of the geomagnetic storm could potentially be seen just hours after Hurricane Milton devastated Florida's west coast, while communities across the Southeast are still reeling from Hurricane Helene.

According to Space.org, the geomagnetic storm is a coronal mass ejection (CME), which are large ejections of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun's atmosphere, known as the corona. This is one of several coronal mass ejections and storms Earth has experienced in the last year.

“A CME is expected to reach and impact Earth, with the potential for an increased geomagnetic response and depending on the orientation of the embedded magnetic field (and) the potential for strong storms,” the SWPC said.

While these geomagnetic storms from coronal mass ejections can affect satellites and our power grids, they also create the Aurora Borealis effect.

Here's what you need to know about the storm and whether Tennesseans will see the Aurora Borealis again.

When will the geomagnetic storm hit Earth?

Scientists expect the “storm” to strike sometime between Thursday morning and afternoon.

Will we see the Aurora Borealis in Tennessee tonight?

Perhaps.

The dancing red and green lights of the Aurora Borealis are not a common sight for most people in the United States, but much of the country was able to see them in May, and recent forecasts from NOAA suggest the northern lights are dancing their way down Northern States again. However, according to SWPC's experimental aurora line of sight, the sky lights could be seen as far away as Alabama and Northern California.

Even if the Tennesseans don't get a chance this time, there's a chance we'll see them again in the next year or so.

Which states have the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights tonight?

Our friends further north have the best spots in the country for today's light show. States best located within the Aurora line of sight include:

Alaska
Washington
Idaho
Montana
North Dakota
Minnesota
Michigan
Wisconsin

NASA scientists predict that solar maximum, or the next peak in solar activity, will occur in July 2025. That means the northern lights will become stronger and more frequent as the solar maximum approaches, USA TODAY reported.

When is the best time to see the Northern Lights?

It will be a clear night across much of Tennessee, so you don't have to worry about the weather affecting your visibility when the Northern Lights appear.

According to NOAA, the best aurora is usually visible within an hour or two after midnight.

What is a Coronal Mass Ejection?

These slow bursts of plasma and magnetic fields can cause problems on Earth, but are often touted as a good thing because of the light show they also provide.

According to Space.com, CMEs are known to affect power grids, telecommunications networks and orbiting satellites, exposing astronauts to dangerous doses of radiation. The expulsions are also the reason we can see the Aurora Borealis in the United States without having to make a very long trek north.

Do solar storms cause the aurora borealis? What exactly does that mean?

In short, the Northern Lights can be seen thanks to particles released from the Sun through solar flares that hit the Earth's magnetic field. The colorful glow of the auroras that we ultimately see are the particles interacting with atmospheric gas molecules.

In this case, green and red light is emitted by oxygen. According to NASA, blue and purple come from nitrogen.