Federal space-weather forecasters warned Thursday that a coronal mass ejection from the sun is likely to arrive over the New Year’s holiday and could spark geomagnetic activity strong enough to produce visible northern lights across much of the northern United States on New Year’s Eve. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) said the timing and intensity of the storm make auroral sightings a realistic possibility for observers far south of the Arctic Circle.

“Models indicate enhanced geomagnetic activity with a window that overlaps late evening into the early hours of January 1,” the SWPC said in a public advisory, adding that auroras may be visible in the northern-tier states under clear, dark skies. Local visibility will depend on cloud cover, ambient light, and the storm’s peak intensity, forecasters cautioned.

For residents and visitors in Wyoming, parts of the state’s high plains and mountain basins could offer good vantage points, provided skies remain clear and light pollution is minimal. Photographers and amateur skywatchers are already weighing options at higher-elevation sites, while tourism operators in traditionally dark-sky areas said they expected increased interest if the storm reaches forecast strength.

Space-weather scientists, emergency managers and infrastructure operators monitor such events because the same solar disturbances that create auroras can also perturb satellites, affect radio communications, degrade GPS signals and — in rare, intense cases — induce currents in power grids. The blackout that struck Quebec in March 1989, caused by a geomagnetic storm, remains a cautionary reference point for utilities and regulators assessing risk.

“Even moderate storms can have measurable impacts on systems we rely on every day,” said a university researcher specializing in space weather preparedness. “Public viewing is a welcome reward for a successful forecast, but it should not obscure the importance of resilience planning for critical infrastructure.”

Federal agencies offer layered alerts for space-weather hazards, and the SWPC updates watches as new observations and model runs refine arrival times and intensity estimates. Satellite operators and aviation services use those updates to adjust operations, while electric utilities perform routine monitoring and mitigation steps when a storm is expected.

The event also underscores policy questions about how prepared states and the federal government are for increasingly frequent and better-documented disruptions from solar activity. Experts say investment in grid hardening, improved forecasting, and clearer communication between federal agencies, state emergency managers and private operators would reduce vulnerability and enhance public safety.

For would-be aurora observers, meteorologists advise checking SWPC updates and local weather forecasts. Clear, dark locations away from city lights, and a patient wait after midnight, increase the odds of seeing displays when geomagnetic conditions peak. Whether seen as an atmospheric wonder or a reminder of technological vulnerabilities, the approaching storm will be closely watched by both stargazers and infrastructure managers as the nation enters the new year.