NEW YORK – This Thanksgiving, solar storms may produce faint auroras across the northern edge of the United States.

Faint auroras could be seen in many northern states on Thursday and Friday, but they could be short-lived and their observation will depend on how intense the solar storms become, NOAA meteorologist Mike Bettwy said in an email.

Many of the following states are best positioned for potential auroras: Washington, Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine. Northern lights may also occur in the northern parts of Idaho, Wyoming, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire.

To watch the spectacle, wait until the clear sky turns dark and then head outside, ideally away from the bright city lights. If you take photos with a smartphone camera, you may also be able to see evidence of the northern lights that are not visible to the naked eye.

The sun is currently in the maximum phase of its 11-year cycle, making solar bursts and northern lights more common. Earlier this week, the Sun shot a pulse of high-energy plasma toward Earth.

According to NASA and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the active period is expected to last at least another year. However, scientists will only know months later when solar activity reaches its peak.

Experts do not expect any major communication disruptions from this week’s solar storm.

In May, NOAA issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning – it was the strongest storm in more than two decades and produced flashes of light across the Northern Hemisphere. Last month, a powerful solar storm dazzled sky watchers far from the Arctic Circle as auroras appeared in unexpected places, including Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York City.

—-

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Science and Educational Media Group of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The AP is solely responsible for all content.