Northern Lights Could Return To Ohio — Strong Solar Storm May Bring Aurora On Dec. 9

The aurora that lit up parts of Ohio in November could return this week. The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), part of NOAA, warns that a coronal mass ejection (CME) from Dec. 6 may trigger a strong geomagnetic storm on Dec. 9 and push the northern lights southward into the northern United States — possibly northern Ohio — or, if the storm strengthens, across the entire state.

What Scientists Are Saying

SWPC is forecasting a level 3 (strong) geomagnetic storm — on a 1-to-5 scale — driven by the Dec. 6 CME. According to NOAA and the SWPC aurora viewline map, a storm at this intensity could make the aurora visible as far south as Illinois (eastern U.S.) and Oregon (western U.S.). The most likely window for activity is Dec. 8–9, with a peak impact expected on Dec. 9.

How Auroras Form

NASA describes CMEs as "huge bubbles of coronal plasma threaded by intense magnetic field lines" that erupt from the sun. When these eruptions send energetic charged particles outward, those particles travel with the solar wind and slam into Earth's atmosphere. Space.com notes they travel at roughly 45 million miles per hour and are guided by Earth's magnetic field toward the poles, where their collisions with atmospheric gases create the glowing ribbons and curtains of the aurora.

Where And When To Look

• Best Dates: Dec. 8–9, with the highest chance on Dec. 9 if the CME arrives as predicted.
• Best Time: Around local midnight — generally between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. (within an hour or two of midnight).
• Where To Look: Away from city lights, with an unobstructed view toward the northern horizon; if activity is very strong, the aurora may appear overhead across northern U.S. states.

Local Weather (Affecting Visibility)

Local skies will determine whether you can actually see the lights. Forecasts at the time of writing indicated:

• Akron: Mostly clear Dec. 8; rain and snow likely by Dec. 9.
• Columbus: Mostly clear Dec. 8; rain likely Dec. 9.
• Greater Cincinnati: Mostly clear Dec. 8; increasing clouds and a chance of rain Dec. 9.

Viewing And Photography Tips

For the best chance to see or photograph the aurora:

• Find a very dark spot away from city lights and avoid nights with a bright full moon.
• Use a tripod and a wide-angle lens; compose shots with a foreground element (tree, building, horizon) for a stronger image.
• If using a smartphone: use a tripod, a remote or the timer to avoid touching the screen, turn off the flash, and enable night mode if available.

Final Notes

Observers across Canada and the northern United States should also monitor SWPC/NOAA updates. Geomagnetic activity can intensify or weaken quickly; check real-time alerts and local cloud cover forecasts before heading out.

Sources: NOAA/SWPC, NASA, Space.com, National Geographic