Northern Lights possibly visible over Iowa starting Friday night

Photo: Daniel A. Leifheit / Moment / Getty Images

People in the Northern half of the United States have a chance to see something special Friday night and into the weekend. Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, could be visible across those parts of the country.

"Several geomagnetic storms are coming off the sun," says Des Moines National Weather Service meteorologist Rod Donavon. "With that, some of auroras and Northern lights could be seen from Iowa overnight tonight."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a G4 Geomagnetic Storm Watch, the most severe issued since 2005. The current NOAA forecast says the viewing area will stretch into Northern Missouri.

"Assuming that we get rid of the clouds we'll have passing through later this afternoon, the viewing should be pretty good," Donovan says. "Especially as we get towards midnight tonight."

He also says these types of storms can sometimes produce GPS or radio issues when they occur.


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