Northern Lights Visible Across Illinois Amid Rare Geomagnetic Storm
Aurora Borealis Expected to Be Visible in Northern U.S. Tonight
Subtle Green Glow Best Viewed Between 2 AM and Dawn
An historic geomagnetic storm gave Chicago-area residents and millions of others in the Northern Hemisphere a rare glimpse of the Northern Lights on Wednesday night, May 10, 2024. The storm, caused by a solar flare that erupted from the sun on Sunday, May 7, sent a stream of charged particles toward Earth that interacted with the planet's magnetic field to create the colorful display.
The Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are typically visible only in the far northern latitudes. However, the strength of the recent geomagnetic storm allowed the lights to be seen as far south as Illinois. The best time to see the Northern Lights in the Chicago area was between 2 am. and dawn, when the sky was darkest.
The Northern Lights appeared as a subtle green glow in the sky. Some viewers also reported seeing faint red and purple hues. The lights were visible for about an hour before fading away. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Northern Lights in the Chicago area. If you missed it this time, don't worry—the next geomagnetic storm is just around the corner.
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