Northern lights illuminate Elk County skies
RIDGWAY - Over the weekend, aurora borealis, or the northern lights, were seen across the Elk County area and were visible throughout the Keystone State.
This was the strongest geomagnetic storm recorded by NOAA’s (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) since October of 2003.
Geomagnetic storms cause the northern lights, which were visible from the Elk County area.
Pennsylvania was “above the view line” for the northern lights as this made them visible, according to the National Weather Service.
Although cloudy conditions in the night sky did not make this phenomenon optimal for viewing, the best time to see the spectacle was from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center predicts that the northern lights could continue into the early parts of this week due to the strength of these solar storms.
These storms also have the potential to cause issues with satellite communications, power grids, and radios.
This active storm cycle is expected to peak in 2025.
The eye-popping light show that the northern lights provide is typically viewed as a once in a lifetime experience and can usually be seen in certain parts of the world, but the Elk County community was treated to seeing this show in the sky right in their backyard.