Northern Lights In RI Sunday?

NEWPORT, RI — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a moderate geomagnetic storm from a sunspot that hurled magnetic energy toward earth's atmosphere on Friday. The magnetic wave is expected to reach Earth on Sunday night into Monday morning. If so, the northern lights could be visible.

Here is how NASA explains the phenomenon.

"After a trip toward Earth that can last two to three days, the solar particles and magnetic fields cause the release of particles already trapped near Earth, which in turn trigger reactions in the upper atmosphere in which oxygen and nitrogen molecules release photons of light. The result: the Northern and Southern lights."

NOAA has issued an aurora watch for Sunday. Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut are just south of the viewing area, but aurora's are a bit unpredictable. So, it's not impossible things could change. NOAA has a 30-minute forecast, and the experts suggest checking it on Sunday into Monday. Or there's always a quick drive to New Hampshire.

Photo Courtesy NOAA

Cover Photo: The sunspot that exploded Friday, July 14. Courtesy NASA