RAPID CITY, S.D. – Residents of Rapid City and the surrounding Black Hills area may have a rare opportunity to view the aurora borealis, or northern lights, on Monday night for Labor Day. A potent solar storm is expected to create geomagnetic storm conditions that could push the aurora’s visibility much farther south than usual.
Space weather forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are predicting a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun to impact Earth’s magnetic field. This event could lead to a G3-class geomagnetic storm, which is strong enough to make the northern lights visible across a wide swath of the United States. South Dakota is among the states where a display may be visible.
For the best chance to see the aurora in Rapid City, viewers should seek out a location away from city lights, like those found in the Black Hills National Forest or Badlands National Park. The display is most likely to be seen on the northern horizon and is typically most visible between midnight and 2 a.m. local time, though it could appear as soon as the sky is fully dark. The forecast for Monday night in Rapid City calls for clear skies, which is a key factor for viewing the lights.