After a flurry of solar activity, Earth will start the new year with geomagnetic storms and possible auroras south to the Midwest.

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) and NASA satellites have been monitoring recent activity from powerful solar flares originating from sunspot regions.

“Intense activity occurred over the weekend of December 28-29 as active regions and (sun)spot groups became unstable,” the SWPC said.

WHY 2024 WAS A BIG DEAL FOR THE SUN

NOAA’s Solar Ultraviolet Imager captured three powerful (X-class) solar flares on December 29th.

The SWPC said the Sun emitted a “litany” of small to strong outbursts with associated coronal mass ejections (CME).

One of these CMEs reached Earth’s atmosphere on Tuesday afternoon, just in time to ring in the new year. As a result, the SWPC issued a geomagnetic storm warning until January 1st.

The SWPC rates solar storms a five-point scalewith five being the most extreme and rare Space weather Conditions. Strong geomagnetic storms of level 3 out of 5 are possible on Tuesday, with light storms of level 1 forecast for New Year’s Day. However, space weather researchers are considering upgrading the clock to Level 2.

MORE INFORMATION: EXTREME GEOMAGNETIC STORM RELEASES STUNNING AURORAS ACROSS THE WORLD

Strong geomagnetic storms are not common, but not uncommon. A strong solar storm can produce northern lights as far south of the North Pole as Illinois and Oregon. People across the northern United States could be in for a great show in addition to fireworks on Tuesday.

The SWPC said that as the CME progresses, they expect the geomagnetic storms to continue into the evening and overnight hours of Tuesday.

December 31, 2024 Aurora forecast when a strong geomagnetic storm is possible.

(FOX Weather)

A potential advantage of the timing of the space weather event is that auroral hunters have a recent new moon on their side. December 30 marked a rare second new moon of the month known as the Black Moon. Without disturbing moonlight, sky watchers who want to spot northern lights or distant planets have a better chance.

To see the Northern Lights, get as far away from the city lights as possible. If the Northern Lights aren’t visible to the naked eye, check your smartphone’s camera and you might be surprised by what you see.