Charlotte may see the northern lights again soon. Here’s when to look up
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Powerful solar storm may drive aurora displays into Charlotte Thursday night.
- NOAA lists a 4 p.m.–1 a.m. viewing window, with best chances around midnight.
- Charlotte forecast shows clouds and a 35°F low; relocating north could help viewing.
With a chance of snow in the forecast, Charlotte could also get a rare light show Thursday night thanks to a powerful solar storm.
The aurora borealis, or the northern lights, stems from bursts of charged particles released by the sun, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
Those shimmering colors appear when those particles interact with the upper layers of Earth’s atmosphere, creating a glow that can stretch 50 to 300 miles overhead. And while NOAA says auroras are always active above the planet, they seldom dip far enough south for us to see them.
Northern lights Charlotte
According to space.com, the solar storm could be visible in 15 states. Though that list doesn’t include North Carolina, it comes with a caveat: “The list is based on current forecast data, but if conditions strengthen and skies are clear, auroras could reach much farther south than expected,” the website says.
The best window for viewing the storm is between 4 p.m. and 1 a.m. on Thursday evening, according to the NOAA.
NOAA has an experimental aurora forecast it updates daily and there are smartphone apps that estimate the chance of seeing aurora based on your location. People have reported seeing northern lights even when forecasts show a low chance.
Northern lights viewing tips
For the best view of the northern lights, the NOAA suggests finding a clear, unobstructed view of the sky away from any light pollution.
Assuming the lights are still visible, the NOAA recommends catching a glimpse of them within an hour or two of midnight, when the best view will happen.
Charlotte nighttime sky forecast
Skies in the Charlotte area are expected to be cloudy Thursday night, with a low of around 35 degrees, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.
According to Nordland Aurora, a photography company that specializes in photographing the northern lights, relocating can be your best bet if you happen to be in a cloudy area. The website also notes that sometimes the aurora can be seen through cloud cover.
