"Aurora Coolness" by XKCD comic - Cartoonist Randall shares his experience with attempts and observations of aurora, many hours watching and only minutes at a time for the best views. But the best aurora views won't happen without going out and trying for a look. https://xkcd.com/3196/ #SpaceWeather #aurora #AuroraBorealis #AuroraAustralis #astronomy

Good thing I woke up and checked the aurora in the middle of the night. Kp=8 storm level! Just like in May 2024, I could see aurora while driving on I-84 before reaching the viewing points. I got aurora pictures from near I-84 east of Portland at Multnomah Falls and a vista point at Corbett. But the Columbia River Gorge was clouded over at Bonneville Dam and Cascade Locks. So I turned around. #SpaceWeather #aurora #AuroraBorealis #astronomy #weather #ORwx #PNW

@msbellows Yeah. The numbers weren't there to support it so far this evening. I've been watching data from the NOAA satellites. The Kp briefly crept back up to 5.67 then crashed below 4. We need Kp=7 to see aurora in the vicinity of Portland. Since midnight is when the auroral oval is strongest overhead, I've been watching for it to go back up to Kp=6 by 11pm. If not, I'll give up.

Good presentations of the data are at:
https://www.spaceweather.gov/communities/aurora-dashboard-experimental
https://www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast
https://cdn.softservenews.com/Aurora.htm

It's somewhat ironic that yesterday I drove 3 hours to Seattle to get pictures of Aurora Borealis livery on a 787-9. But tonight it looks like the solar storm and real aurora may have ended earlier than forecast around West Coast sunset. So I paused the decision to go for pictures, and have not seen encouraging data yet. Good viewing spots would be up to 1 hour away. Kp has bumped back up to 5. But in Oregon I'd need 7 or it isn't happening down here. https://avgeek.social/@ikluft/115919821052820570

"G4 (Severe) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for 20 January UTC-Day" by NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center SWPC - G4 (Kp=8) geomagnetic storm conditions forecast for January 20 0600-0900 UTC, favoring tonight in the Americas for aurora viewing. https://www.spaceweather.gov/news/g4-severe-geomagnetic-storm-watch-20-january-utc-day #NOAA #SpaceWeather #CME #Aurora #AuroraBorealis #AuroraAustralis