Spectacular Northern Lights Forecast Amid Incoming “Cannibal” Solar Storm

August 31, 2025 - Skywatchers are on high alert tonight as a powerful solar eruption is poised to deliver a rare and far-reaching display of the northern lights, potentially visible as far south as the U.S. Midwest and East Coast, and across much of northern Europe.

Dateline: Washington, D.C.-A long-duration M2.7 solar flare erupted from sunspot Active Region 4199 on August 30, launching a fast-moving coronal mass ejection (CME) toward Earth. According to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, the CME is expected to arrive late on September 1 into early September 2 UTC, sparking a G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm that could intensify to G3 (strong) levels when the bulk of the plasma cloud impacts our planet’s magnetic field.

Space weather physicist Dr. Tamitha Skov highlighted on social media that two Earth-directed CMEs may be involved-one overtaking the other in a so-called “cannibal CME” scenario. “The larger one catches up with the smaller one just ahead of Earth, so a precursor disturbance may ramp up before the larger storm hits. Impact is expected by late September 1. G2+ conditions possible,” she explained.

NOAA’s Kp index forecast predicts peak geomagnetic activity (Kp 6-7) between 06:00 and 09:00 UTC on September 2, corresponding to the early morning hours of Labor Day in North America. Under clear and dark skies, auroras could extend beyond usual polar zones into mid-latitude regions, including Washington, D.C.; New York; Illinois; and even parts of Virginia and Missouri.

In Europe, the U.K. Met Office warns the auroral oval may expand southward, offering chances to glimpse the lights in Scotland, northern England, Wales, and the Midlands if skies permit. Observers in Scandinavia, the Baltics, and Iceland should enjoy prime viewing conditions, while southern residents can watch for a faint green glow low on the horizon.

For the best experience, experts recommend finding a location far from city lights after moonset, allowing eyes to adapt to the darkness. Auroras often appear as diffuse green curtains or pulsating rays that can materialize unexpectedly and vary in intensity over several hours.

With the Labor Day holiday providing extra sky-watching time and the potential for a two-stage storm arrival, enthusiasts are urged to monitor real-time updates from NOAA’s SWPC and follow social media feeds from space weather forecasters for the latest alerts and imagery. Clear skies tonight and tomorrow could reward viewers with a once-in-a-lifetime celestial performance-no Arctic expedition required.