![]() ![]() However, cloudy skies could also obscure Californians’ view. UCLA space physics Professor Vassilis Angelopoulos previously told The Chronicle that, in addition to getting as far away from the city as possible, light watchers should follow NOAA’s space weather forecasts to see the geomagnetic K-index, a measure of the strength of the storms, hit 7. According to, the auroras will result from highly unusual solar activity - with a “backwards” polarity that occurs in only 3% of sunspots. The storm on Thursday was rated as G3 level, or “strong,” by the NOAA center, with “moderate” activity continuing into Friday. It must be dark to see the aurora, the space weather prediction center says on its tips webpage, and best viewing is usually between 10 p.m. But Californians did catch a glimpse of the phenomenon earlier this year, and for enthusiasts hoping to get another look, experts say there are ways to improve your chances. The northern lights are typically most visible near the North Pole, sometimes stretching lower into Canada and the northern United States. “We’ve had a couple of events in the past month or so, but it is unknown if the upcoming event will allow viewing of the Aurora this far south.” “If you want to see the Northern Lights find a night sky away from city lights and look toward the north,” the weather service added. #cawx #spacewx - NWS Sacramento May 11, 2023 More Northern Lights for NorCal? A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm watch in effect May 11th. ![]() “More northern lights for NorCal?” the National Weather Service’s Sacramento branch wrote on Twitter on Wednesday, as projections for the Thursday storm grew closer. ![]() It did not mention California, but many still held out hope. The space weather agency predicted that the lights would be visible as far south as Pennsylvania, Iowa and Oregon. ![]()
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