Aurora Borealis Info from Soft Serve News https://cdn.softservenews.com/ Real time Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) and Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) News and Forecasts. Get info on upcoming Aurora (Northern Lights) storm watches and alerts. Find out how to see the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) in your area. Aurora Borealis en-us Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:10:03 +0000 e4b6fc14632fb825eec52cc6c82bdb72 NEW Minor Aurora Storm Watch Issued https://cdn.softservenews.com/en/aurora-borealis-breaking-news/aurora-storm-watch-300389.html Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:06:02 +0000 setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION); // This is from Nija book to keep the errors silent, comment this out foreach ($conn->query($strSQLArticle) as $row) { $ArticlePostedText = $row['ArticlePostedText']; $dtStart = $row['dtStart']; $StartDateForJavaScript = $row['StartDateForJavaScript']; $dtEnd = $row['dtEnd']; $dtLast_Updated = $row['dtLast_Updated']; $dtDateRecordCreated = $row['dtDateRecordCreated']; $TitleTag = $row['TitleTag']; $photo_ogImageLoc = $row['photo_ogImageLoc']; $photo_author_link = $row['photo_author_link']; $photo_author_attribution = $row['photo_author_attribution']; $photo_title = $row['photo_title']; $photo_width = $row['photo_width']; $photo_height = $row['photo_height']; $Actual_h1_Title = $row['Actual_h1_Title']; //$Update_Current_Number = $row['Update_Current_Number']; $Updates_Text_Complete = $row['Updates_Text_Complete']; $Kp_Possible_Words = $row['Kp_Possible_Words']; $total_storm_length_hours = $row['total_storm_length_hours']; $powergrid_satellite_sentence = $row['powergrid_satellite_sentence']; } $dtDateRecordCreated_Unix = strtotime($dtDateRecordCreated); $dtLast_Updated_Unix = strtotime($dtLast_Updated); $dtDateRecordCreated_Meta = date("Y-m-d", $dtDateRecordCreated_Unix)."T".date("H:i:s", $dtDateRecordCreated_Unix)."-00:00"; $dtLast_Updated_Meta = date("Y-m-d", $dtLast_Updated_Unix)."T".date("H:i:s", $dtLast_Updated_Unix)."-00:00"; // NEW For Hicharts ************************ Start ************************************ date_default_timezone_set("UTC"); //$MyFileNameIs = 'aurora-storm-watch-399999.html'; //DELETE THIS LINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $strSQLArticle2 = "SELECT dt_forecast_time, TheKp FROM tblsolar_storm_watch_forecasts WHERE file_name = '$MyFileNameIs' order by dt_forecast_time"; $a_count2qpA = 0; $conn->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION); // This is from Nija book to keep the errors silent, comment this out foreach ($conn->query($strSQLArticle2) as $row) { $dt_7DayForecast[] = $row['dt_forecast_time']; $KpMax_7DayForecast[] = $row['TheKp']; $a_count2qpA = $a_count2qpA + 1; } $dt_7DayForecast_final = array(); $KpMax_7DayForecast_final = array(); $ArrayCount1 = count($dt_7DayForecast) ; $ArrayCounter = 0; for ($ArrayCounter=0; $ArrayCounter<$ArrayCount1 ; $ArrayCounter++) { $ArrayCounter2 = 0; for ($ArrayCounter2=0; $ArrayCounter2<3 ; $ArrayCounter2++) { $KpMax_7DayForecast_final[] = $KpMax_7DayForecast[$ArrayCounter]; if($ArrayCounter2 == 0 ) { $dt_7DayForecast_final[] = strtotime($dt_7DayForecast[$ArrayCounter])."000"; } elseif($ArrayCounter2 == 1) { $dt_7DayForecast_final[] = (strtotime($dt_7DayForecast[$ArrayCounter]) + 3600)."000"; } else { $dt_7DayForecast_final[] = (strtotime($dt_7DayForecast[$ArrayCounter]) + (2*3600))."000"; } //$KpMax_7DayForecast_String = $KpMax_7DayForecast[$ArrayCounter]; //$dt_7DayForecast_String = strtotime($dt_7DayForecast[$ArrayCounter])."000"; } } $ArrayCount2 = count($dt_7DayForecast_final) ; $KpMax_7DayForecast_String = ""; $dt_7DayForecast_String = ""; $ArrayCounter = 0; $FoundTheFirstOne = 'n'; for ($ArrayCounter=0; $ArrayCounter<$ArrayCount2 ; $ArrayCounter++) { if( $dt_7DayForecast_final[$ArrayCounter] > $TheCurrentTime ) { if($FoundTheFirstOne == 'n' ) { $FoundTheFirstOne = 'y'; //First one one $KpMax_7DayForecast_String = $KpMax_7DayForecast_final[$ArrayCounter]; $dt_7DayForecast_String = $dt_7DayForecast_final[$ArrayCounter]; } else { $KpMax_7DayForecast_String = $KpMax_7DayForecast_String.",".$KpMax_7DayForecast_final[$ArrayCounter]; $dt_7DayForecast_String = $dt_7DayForecast_String.",".$dt_7DayForecast_final[$ArrayCounter]; } } } // NEW for Hicharts ************************ End ************************************ ?>



Aurora Borealis
Photo by
// grab recaptcha library function GetOvationNorth_Article($file_name_big, $img_num) { // The whole purpose is so that as you add new pics this will show the old one untle the script migrates the pic file over to whatever web server this is being run on(02, 03, 04 or whatever) if ( file_exists("../../ov_pics/".$file_name_big)) { return $file_name_big; } else { $file_name_Base = "Aurora_Map_N440.png"; $NewStart = $img_num - 1; $NewName = $NewStart.$file_name_Base; return $NewName; } } ?>

Charged Particles from Sun heading towards Earth.

$Kp_Possible_Words

"; ?>

When does the Aurora storm watch begin?

REAL TIME AURORA FORECAST MAP #arivaltime echo "

The storm watch begins at ".date_format($dateee, "m/d/Y g:i A")." UTC. See here for storm forecast in your local time.

"; ?>

Details and Northern Lights Viewing Tips


The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a hour magnetic storm watch indicating a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) or a high speed solar wind stream emanating from the Sun may be heading towards Earth. These fast moving charged particles can cause a Northern Lights display.

here for storm forecast in your local time." ?> It is important to note that these are only NOAA's estimates. Real-time Aurora Borealis forecasts can be obtained at the Aurora Borealis Forecast page at Soft Serve News.

NOAA estimates the solar wind stream currently headed towards Earth might produce a Kp (geomagnetic activity level) as indicated below, but again that's never fully known until the particles actually hit Earth:


"; //echo $dt_7DayForecast_String.";;".$KpMax_7DayForecast_String."

"; ?>Stronger CMEs can sometimes cause trouble for satellites and create problems with electrical grids by inducing currents as the CME cloud interacts with the magnetic field that surrounds the earth. It is this disturbance of the Earth's magnetic field which is the cause of the Northern Lights.

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, can range from a faint green glow on the northern horizon to a multicolored, full-sky display which can be one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring scenes in nature.

northern lights soft serve news




WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SEE THE AURORA?

To determine if you can see the Northern Lights use the following four steps:

Step 1 -- Know your Location's "Kp number."

The Kp number is the Geomagnetic Activity Level. The stronger the Aurora, the larger the Kp number and the further south it can be seen. Find the Kp number for your location on one of the maps below. On the night you wish to view, periodically check the real-time Aurora Borealis Forecast. This will give you the Kp number prediction for the Aurora for the next hour or so. If that number is greater or equal to the number on the map for your location, you're in luck. Even if the predicted number is one point too low, it still might be worth a look.

North America

Kp map North America


Europe & Asia

Europe and Asia


Step 2 -- Check the Ovation map.

It is a good idea to get confirmation of activity with NOAA's Ovation map. The Kp number gives nice info on how large the storm is, but the Ovation map does a better job of telling you if you can actually see it. It gives a 30 to 40 minute forecast of the size of the aurora along with a color-coded probability of seeing the aurora over various spots on the Earth.



Ovation forecast model - Northern hemisphere


Look for light yellow, orange or, better yet, RED on the Ovation map instead of the usual dark green.

One other thing about this map. From the reports I get, it sometimes underestimates the size of the Aurora, especially with larger Kp numbers. So if the Kp number looks good for your location, and the map is showing orange or red, that's good news for Aurora viewing.

Step 3 -- Check the Weather.

Auroras happen in the upper atmosphere, so if there are clouds blocking your view of the stars, you won't be able to see the Aurora.

Step 4 -- Shop for a Dark Spot.

Get away from those city lights. Darkness is best for viewing the Aurora. The fewer competing light sources, the better. But it is also very important to remember the widest part of the Aurora is when the sun is on the opposite side of the earth. So late, nighttime (or early morning) dark tends to be best.


EXPECTATIONS

Experienced Northern Lights hunters are familiar with disappointment. Predictions of when the CME cloud or a high speed solar wind stream hits the earth are not always accurate. Sometimes CME events produce much smaller displays than expected, or even none at all. Also, it is possible the main auroral event happens during the day and therefore can only be enjoyed by people on the other side of the world where it's dark.

Even with these uncertainties, seeing the grandeur of a powerful Aurora Borealis display may be a once in a lifetime event, so for some it's worth the gamble to try.

]]> help@softservenews.com (Jim Thomas) Aurora Borealis abfac8323c74eeb336f0cf2f49e07da5 Aurora Storm Watch Update https://cdn.softservenews.com/en/aurora-borealis-breaking-news/aurora-storm-watch-300388.html?catw=5038 Sun, 02 Aug 2026 17:06:01 +0000 setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION); // This is from Nija book to keep the errors silent, comment this out foreach ($conn->query($strSQLArticle) as $row) { $ArticlePostedText = $row['ArticlePostedText']; $dtStart = $row['dtStart']; $StartDateForJavaScript = $row['StartDateForJavaScript']; $dtEnd = $row['dtEnd']; $dtLast_Updated = $row['dtLast_Updated']; $dtDateRecordCreated = $row['dtDateRecordCreated']; $TitleTag = $row['TitleTag']; $photo_ogImageLoc = $row['photo_ogImageLoc']; $photo_author_link = $row['photo_author_link']; $photo_author_attribution = $row['photo_author_attribution']; $photo_title = $row['photo_title']; $photo_width = $row['photo_width']; $photo_height = $row['photo_height']; $Actual_h1_Title = $row['Actual_h1_Title']; //$Update_Current_Number = $row['Update_Current_Number']; $Updates_Text_Complete = $row['Updates_Text_Complete']; $Kp_Possible_Words = $row['Kp_Possible_Words']; $total_storm_length_hours = $row['total_storm_length_hours']; $powergrid_satellite_sentence = $row['powergrid_satellite_sentence']; } $dtDateRecordCreated_Unix = strtotime($dtDateRecordCreated); $dtLast_Updated_Unix = strtotime($dtLast_Updated); $dtDateRecordCreated_Meta = date("Y-m-d", $dtDateRecordCreated_Unix)."T".date("H:i:s", $dtDateRecordCreated_Unix)."-00:00"; $dtLast_Updated_Meta = date("Y-m-d", $dtLast_Updated_Unix)."T".date("H:i:s", $dtLast_Updated_Unix)."-00:00"; // NEW For Hicharts ************************ Start ************************************ date_default_timezone_set("UTC"); //$MyFileNameIs = 'aurora-storm-watch-399999.html'; //DELETE THIS LINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $strSQLArticle2 = "SELECT dt_forecast_time, TheKp FROM tblsolar_storm_watch_forecasts WHERE file_name = '$MyFileNameIs' order by dt_forecast_time"; $a_count2qpA = 0; $conn->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION); // This is from Nija book to keep the errors silent, comment this out foreach ($conn->query($strSQLArticle2) as $row) { $dt_7DayForecast[] = $row['dt_forecast_time']; $KpMax_7DayForecast[] = $row['TheKp']; $a_count2qpA = $a_count2qpA + 1; } $dt_7DayForecast_final = array(); $KpMax_7DayForecast_final = array(); $ArrayCount1 = count($dt_7DayForecast) ; $ArrayCounter = 0; for ($ArrayCounter=0; $ArrayCounter<$ArrayCount1 ; $ArrayCounter++) { $ArrayCounter2 = 0; for ($ArrayCounter2=0; $ArrayCounter2<3 ; $ArrayCounter2++) { $KpMax_7DayForecast_final[] = $KpMax_7DayForecast[$ArrayCounter]; if($ArrayCounter2 == 0 ) { $dt_7DayForecast_final[] = strtotime($dt_7DayForecast[$ArrayCounter])."000"; } elseif($ArrayCounter2 == 1) { $dt_7DayForecast_final[] = (strtotime($dt_7DayForecast[$ArrayCounter]) + 3600)."000"; } else { $dt_7DayForecast_final[] = (strtotime($dt_7DayForecast[$ArrayCounter]) + (2*3600))."000"; } //$KpMax_7DayForecast_String = $KpMax_7DayForecast[$ArrayCounter]; //$dt_7DayForecast_String = strtotime($dt_7DayForecast[$ArrayCounter])."000"; } } $ArrayCount2 = count($dt_7DayForecast_final) ; $KpMax_7DayForecast_String = ""; $dt_7DayForecast_String = ""; $ArrayCounter = 0; $FoundTheFirstOne = 'n'; for ($ArrayCounter=0; $ArrayCounter<$ArrayCount2 ; $ArrayCounter++) { if( $dt_7DayForecast_final[$ArrayCounter] > $TheCurrentTime ) { if($FoundTheFirstOne == 'n' ) { $FoundTheFirstOne = 'y'; //First one one $KpMax_7DayForecast_String = $KpMax_7DayForecast_final[$ArrayCounter]; $dt_7DayForecast_String = $dt_7DayForecast_final[$ArrayCounter]; } else { $KpMax_7DayForecast_String = $KpMax_7DayForecast_String.",".$KpMax_7DayForecast_final[$ArrayCounter]; $dt_7DayForecast_String = $dt_7DayForecast_String.",".$dt_7DayForecast_final[$ArrayCounter]; } } } // NEW for Hicharts ************************ End ************************************ ?>



Aurora Borealis
Photo by
// grab recaptcha library function GetOvationNorth_Article($file_name_big, $img_num) { // The whole purpose is so that as you add new pics this will show the old one untle the script migrates the pic file over to whatever web server this is being run on(02, 03, 04 or whatever) if ( file_exists("../../ov_pics/".$file_name_big)) { return $file_name_big; } else { $file_name_Base = "Aurora_Map_N440.png"; $NewStart = $img_num - 1; $NewName = $NewStart.$file_name_Base; return $NewName; } } ?>

Charged Particles from Sun heading towards Earth.

$Kp_Possible_Words

"; ?>

When does the Aurora storm watch begin?

REAL TIME AURORA FORECAST MAP #arivaltime echo "

The storm watch begins at ".date_format($dateee, "m/d/Y g:i A")." UTC. See here for storm forecast in your local time.

"; ?>

Details and Northern Lights Viewing Tips


The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a hour magnetic storm watch indicating a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) or a high speed solar wind stream emanating from the Sun may be heading towards Earth. These fast moving charged particles can cause a Northern Lights display.

here for storm forecast in your local time." ?> It is important to note that these are only NOAA's estimates. Real-time Aurora Borealis forecasts can be obtained at the Aurora Borealis Forecast page at Soft Serve News.

NOAA estimates the solar wind stream currently headed towards Earth might produce a Kp (geomagnetic activity level) as indicated below, but again that's never fully known until the particles actually hit Earth:


"; //echo $dt_7DayForecast_String.";;".$KpMax_7DayForecast_String."

"; ?>Stronger CMEs can sometimes cause trouble for satellites and create problems with electrical grids by inducing currents as the CME cloud interacts with the magnetic field that surrounds the earth. It is this disturbance of the Earth's magnetic field which is the cause of the Northern Lights.

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, can range from a faint green glow on the northern horizon to a multicolored, full-sky display which can be one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring scenes in nature.

northern lights soft serve news




WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SEE THE AURORA?

To determine if you can see the Northern Lights use the following four steps:

Step 1 -- Know your Location's "Kp number."

The Kp number is the Geomagnetic Activity Level. The stronger the Aurora, the larger the Kp number and the further south it can be seen. Find the Kp number for your location on one of the maps below. On the night you wish to view, periodically check the real-time Aurora Borealis Forecast. This will give you the Kp number prediction for the Aurora for the next hour or so. If that number is greater or equal to the number on the map for your location, you're in luck. Even if the predicted number is one point too low, it still might be worth a look.

North America

Kp map North America


Europe & Asia

Europe and Asia


Step 2 -- Check the Ovation map.

It is a good idea to get confirmation of activity with NOAA's Ovation map. The Kp number gives nice info on how large the storm is, but the Ovation map does a better job of telling you if you can actually see it. It gives a 30 to 40 minute forecast of the size of the aurora along with a color-coded probability of seeing the aurora over various spots on the Earth.



Ovation forecast model - Northern hemisphere


Look for light yellow, orange or, better yet, RED on the Ovation map instead of the usual dark green.

One other thing about this map. From the reports I get, it sometimes underestimates the size of the Aurora, especially with larger Kp numbers. So if the Kp number looks good for your location, and the map is showing orange or red, that's good news for Aurora viewing.

Step 3 -- Check the Weather.

Auroras happen in the upper atmosphere, so if there are clouds blocking your view of the stars, you won't be able to see the Aurora.

Step 4 -- Shop for a Dark Spot.

Get away from those city lights. Darkness is best for viewing the Aurora. The fewer competing light sources, the better. But it is also very important to remember the widest part of the Aurora is when the sun is on the opposite side of the earth. So late, nighttime (or early morning) dark tends to be best.


EXPECTATIONS

Experienced Northern Lights hunters are familiar with disappointment. Predictions of when the CME cloud or a high speed solar wind stream hits the earth are not always accurate. Sometimes CME events produce much smaller displays than expected, or even none at all. Also, it is possible the main auroral event happens during the day and therefore can only be enjoyed by people on the other side of the world where it's dark.

Even with these uncertainties, seeing the grandeur of a powerful Aurora Borealis display may be a once in a lifetime event, so for some it's worth the gamble to try.

]]> help@softservenews.com (Jim Thomas) Aurora Borealis 7669d7862c6fed6fde1f05ccde72f0a5 NEW Large Aurora Storm Watch Issued https://cdn.softservenews.com/en/aurora-borealis-breaking-news/aurora-storm-watch-300388.html Fri, 31 Jul 2026 11:36:02 +0000 setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION); // This is from Nija book to keep the errors silent, comment this out foreach ($conn->query($strSQLArticle) as $row) { $ArticlePostedText = $row['ArticlePostedText']; $dtStart = $row['dtStart']; $StartDateForJavaScript = $row['StartDateForJavaScript']; $dtEnd = $row['dtEnd']; $dtLast_Updated = $row['dtLast_Updated']; $dtDateRecordCreated = $row['dtDateRecordCreated']; $TitleTag = $row['TitleTag']; $photo_ogImageLoc = $row['photo_ogImageLoc']; $photo_author_link = $row['photo_author_link']; $photo_author_attribution = $row['photo_author_attribution']; $photo_title = $row['photo_title']; $photo_width = $row['photo_width']; $photo_height = $row['photo_height']; $Actual_h1_Title = $row['Actual_h1_Title']; //$Update_Current_Number = $row['Update_Current_Number']; $Updates_Text_Complete = $row['Updates_Text_Complete']; $Kp_Possible_Words = $row['Kp_Possible_Words']; $total_storm_length_hours = $row['total_storm_length_hours']; $powergrid_satellite_sentence = $row['powergrid_satellite_sentence']; } $dtDateRecordCreated_Unix = strtotime($dtDateRecordCreated); $dtLast_Updated_Unix = strtotime($dtLast_Updated); $dtDateRecordCreated_Meta = date("Y-m-d", $dtDateRecordCreated_Unix)."T".date("H:i:s", $dtDateRecordCreated_Unix)."-00:00"; $dtLast_Updated_Meta = date("Y-m-d", $dtLast_Updated_Unix)."T".date("H:i:s", $dtLast_Updated_Unix)."-00:00"; // NEW For Hicharts ************************ Start ************************************ date_default_timezone_set("UTC"); //$MyFileNameIs = 'aurora-storm-watch-399999.html'; //DELETE THIS LINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $strSQLArticle2 = "SELECT dt_forecast_time, TheKp FROM tblsolar_storm_watch_forecasts WHERE file_name = '$MyFileNameIs' order by dt_forecast_time"; $a_count2qpA = 0; $conn->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION); // This is from Nija book to keep the errors silent, comment this out foreach ($conn->query($strSQLArticle2) as $row) { $dt_7DayForecast[] = $row['dt_forecast_time']; $KpMax_7DayForecast[] = $row['TheKp']; $a_count2qpA = $a_count2qpA + 1; } $dt_7DayForecast_final = array(); $KpMax_7DayForecast_final = array(); $ArrayCount1 = count($dt_7DayForecast) ; $ArrayCounter = 0; for ($ArrayCounter=0; $ArrayCounter<$ArrayCount1 ; $ArrayCounter++) { $ArrayCounter2 = 0; for ($ArrayCounter2=0; $ArrayCounter2<3 ; $ArrayCounter2++) { $KpMax_7DayForecast_final[] = $KpMax_7DayForecast[$ArrayCounter]; if($ArrayCounter2 == 0 ) { $dt_7DayForecast_final[] = strtotime($dt_7DayForecast[$ArrayCounter])."000"; } elseif($ArrayCounter2 == 1) { $dt_7DayForecast_final[] = (strtotime($dt_7DayForecast[$ArrayCounter]) + 3600)."000"; } else { $dt_7DayForecast_final[] = (strtotime($dt_7DayForecast[$ArrayCounter]) + (2*3600))."000"; } //$KpMax_7DayForecast_String = $KpMax_7DayForecast[$ArrayCounter]; //$dt_7DayForecast_String = strtotime($dt_7DayForecast[$ArrayCounter])."000"; } } $ArrayCount2 = count($dt_7DayForecast_final) ; $KpMax_7DayForecast_String = ""; $dt_7DayForecast_String = ""; $ArrayCounter = 0; $FoundTheFirstOne = 'n'; for ($ArrayCounter=0; $ArrayCounter<$ArrayCount2 ; $ArrayCounter++) { if( $dt_7DayForecast_final[$ArrayCounter] > $TheCurrentTime ) { if($FoundTheFirstOne == 'n' ) { $FoundTheFirstOne = 'y'; //First one one $KpMax_7DayForecast_String = $KpMax_7DayForecast_final[$ArrayCounter]; $dt_7DayForecast_String = $dt_7DayForecast_final[$ArrayCounter]; } else { $KpMax_7DayForecast_String = $KpMax_7DayForecast_String.",".$KpMax_7DayForecast_final[$ArrayCounter]; $dt_7DayForecast_String = $dt_7DayForecast_String.",".$dt_7DayForecast_final[$ArrayCounter]; } } } // NEW for Hicharts ************************ End ************************************ ?>



Aurora Borealis
Photo by
// grab recaptcha library function GetOvationNorth_Article($file_name_big, $img_num) { // The whole purpose is so that as you add new pics this will show the old one untle the script migrates the pic file over to whatever web server this is being run on(02, 03, 04 or whatever) if ( file_exists("../../ov_pics/".$file_name_big)) { return $file_name_big; } else { $file_name_Base = "Aurora_Map_N440.png"; $NewStart = $img_num - 1; $NewName = $NewStart.$file_name_Base; return $NewName; } } ?>

Charged Particles from Sun heading towards Earth.

$Kp_Possible_Words

"; ?>

When does the Aurora storm watch begin?

REAL TIME AURORA FORECAST MAP #arivaltime echo "

The storm watch begins at ".date_format($dateee, "m/d/Y g:i A")." UTC. See here for storm forecast in your local time.

"; ?>

Details and Northern Lights Viewing Tips


The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a hour magnetic storm watch indicating a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) or a high speed solar wind stream emanating from the Sun may be heading towards Earth. These fast moving charged particles can cause a Northern Lights display.

here for storm forecast in your local time." ?> It is important to note that these are only NOAA's estimates. Real-time Aurora Borealis forecasts can be obtained at the Aurora Borealis Forecast page at Soft Serve News.

NOAA estimates the solar wind stream currently headed towards Earth might produce a Kp (geomagnetic activity level) as indicated below, but again that's never fully known until the particles actually hit Earth:


"; //echo $dt_7DayForecast_String.";;".$KpMax_7DayForecast_String."

"; ?>Stronger CMEs can sometimes cause trouble for satellites and create problems with electrical grids by inducing currents as the CME cloud interacts with the magnetic field that surrounds the earth. It is this disturbance of the Earth's magnetic field which is the cause of the Northern Lights.

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, can range from a faint green glow on the northern horizon to a multicolored, full-sky display which can be one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring scenes in nature.

northern lights soft serve news




WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SEE THE AURORA?

To determine if you can see the Northern Lights use the following four steps:

Step 1 -- Know your Location's "Kp number."

The Kp number is the Geomagnetic Activity Level. The stronger the Aurora, the larger the Kp number and the further south it can be seen. Find the Kp number for your location on one of the maps below. On the night you wish to view, periodically check the real-time Aurora Borealis Forecast. This will give you the Kp number prediction for the Aurora for the next hour or so. If that number is greater or equal to the number on the map for your location, you're in luck. Even if the predicted number is one point too low, it still might be worth a look.

North America

Kp map North America


Europe & Asia

Europe and Asia


Step 2 -- Check the Ovation map.

It is a good idea to get confirmation of activity with NOAA's Ovation map. The Kp number gives nice info on how large the storm is, but the Ovation map does a better job of telling you if you can actually see it. It gives a 30 to 40 minute forecast of the size of the aurora along with a color-coded probability of seeing the aurora over various spots on the Earth.



Ovation forecast model - Northern hemisphere


Look for light yellow, orange or, better yet, RED on the Ovation map instead of the usual dark green.

One other thing about this map. From the reports I get, it sometimes underestimates the size of the Aurora, especially with larger Kp numbers. So if the Kp number looks good for your location, and the map is showing orange or red, that's good news for Aurora viewing.

Step 3 -- Check the Weather.

Auroras happen in the upper atmosphere, so if there are clouds blocking your view of the stars, you won't be able to see the Aurora.

Step 4 -- Shop for a Dark Spot.

Get away from those city lights. Darkness is best for viewing the Aurora. The fewer competing light sources, the better. But it is also very important to remember the widest part of the Aurora is when the sun is on the opposite side of the earth. So late, nighttime (or early morning) dark tends to be best.


EXPECTATIONS

Experienced Northern Lights hunters are familiar with disappointment. Predictions of when the CME cloud or a high speed solar wind stream hits the earth are not always accurate. Sometimes CME events produce much smaller displays than expected, or even none at all. Also, it is possible the main auroral event happens during the day and therefore can only be enjoyed by people on the other side of the world where it's dark.

Even with these uncertainties, seeing the grandeur of a powerful Aurora Borealis display may be a once in a lifetime event, so for some it's worth the gamble to try.

]]> help@softservenews.com (Jim Thomas) Aurora Borealis fde743a81f8bfb5d5c71063ca16b7680 NEW Minor Aurora Storm Watch Issued https://cdn.softservenews.com/en/aurora-borealis-breaking-news/aurora-storm-watch-300387.html Wed, 22 Jul 2026 19:36:02 +0000 help@softservenews.com (Jim Thomas) Aurora Borealis c1358a7d6ef08fbe3961063862a326e8 NEW Minor Aurora Storm Watch Issued https://cdn.softservenews.com/en/aurora-borealis-breaking-news/aurora-storm-watch-300386.html Sun, 19 Jul 2026 20:36:01 +0000 help@softservenews.com (Jim Thomas) Aurora Borealis 1e9e497adf4dbb9b3b219d6f04dc9f27 NEW Minor Aurora Storm Watch Issued https://cdn.softservenews.com/en/aurora-borealis-breaking-news/aurora-storm-watch-300385.html Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:06:01 +0000

Minor Aurora Storm Watch Issued



Aurora Borealis
Photo by Arctic Light Photo, Ole Salomonsen Photography

Charged Particles from Sun heading towards Earth.

24 hours: 5 Kp possible.

When does the Aurora storm watch begin?

The storm watch begins at 07/12/2026 12:00 AM UTC. See here for storm forecast in your local time.


Details and Northern Lights Viewing Tips


The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a 24 hour magnetic storm watch indicating a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) or a high speed solar wind stream emanating from the Sun may be heading towards Earth. These fast moving charged particles can cause a Northern Lights display.

The storm watch begins at 07/12/2026 12:00 AM UTC. See here for storm forecast in your local time. It is important to note that these are only NOAA's estimates. Real-time Aurora Borealis forecasts can be obtained at the Aurora Borealis Forecast page at Soft Serve News.

NOAA estimates the solar wind stream currently headed towards Earth might produce a Kp (geomagnetic activity level) as indicated below, but again that's never fully known until the particles actually hit Earth:

24 hours: 5 Kp possible.

Stronger CMEs can sometimes cause trouble for satellites and create problems with electrical grids by inducing currents as the CME cloud interacts with the magnetic field that surrounds the earth. It is this disturbance of the Earth's magnetic field which is the cause of the Northern Lights. NOAA indicates that weak power grid fluctuations may occur and some minor impacts on satellite operations are possible.

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, can range from a faint green glow on the northern horizon to a multicolored, full-sky display which can be one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring scenes in nature.

northern lights soft serve news




WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SEE THE AURORA?

To determine if you can see the Northern Lights use the following four steps:

Step 1 -- Know your Location's "Kp number."

The Kp number is the Geomagnetic Activity Level. The stronger the Aurora, the larger the Kp number and the further south it can be seen. Find the Kp number for your location on one of the maps below. On the night you wish to view, periodically check the real-time Aurora Borealis Forecast. This will give you the Kp number prediction for the Aurora for the next hour or so. If that number is greater or equal to the number on the map for your location, you're in luck. Even if the predicted number is one point too low, it still might be worth a look.

North America

Kp map North America


Europe & Asia

Europe and Asia


Step 2 -- Check the Ovation map.

It is a good idea to get confirmation of activity with NOAA's Ovation map. The Kp number gives nice info on how large the storm is, but the Ovation map does a better job of telling you if you can actually see it. It gives a 30 to 40 minute forecast of the size of the aurora along with a color-coded probability of seeing the aurora over various spots on the Earth.



Ovation forecast model - Northern hemisphere


Look for light yellow, orange or, better yet, RED on the Ovation map instead of the usual dark green.

One other thing about this map. From the reports I get, it sometimes underestimates the size of the Aurora, especially with larger Kp numbers. So if the Kp number looks good for your location, and the map is showing orange or red, that's good news for Aurora viewing.

Step 3 -- Check the Weather.

Auroras happen in the upper atmosphere, so if there are clouds blocking your view of the stars, you won't be able to see the Aurora.

Step 4 -- Shop for a Dark Spot.

Get away from those city lights. Darkness is best for viewing the Aurora. The fewer competing light sources, the better. But it is also very important to remember the widest part of the Aurora is when the sun is on the opposite side of the earth. So late, nighttime (or early morning) dark tends to be best.


EXPECTATIONS

Experienced Northern Lights hunters are familiar with disappointment. Predictions of when the CME cloud or a high speed solar wind stream hits the earth are not always accurate. Sometimes CME events produce much smaller displays than expected, or even none at all. Also, it is possible the main auroral event happens during the day and therefore can only be enjoyed by people on the other side of the world where it's dark.

Even with these uncertainties, seeing the grandeur of a powerful Aurora Borealis display may be a once in a lifetime event, so for some it's worth the gamble to try.

]]> help@softservenews.com (Jim Thomas) Aurora Borealis