The Aurora Borealis glows over the Mendenhall Glacier in 2014. The forecast looks promising for Aurora activity this Saturday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

The Aurora Borealis glows over the Mendenhall Glacier in 2014. The forecast looks promising for Aurora activity this Saturday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Aurora won’t be boring-alis this Saturday night

Major aurora activity to light up Juneau this weekend

Major aurora activity is predicted for the night sky across Alaska this weekend, peaking Saturday night, according to the Geophysical Institute’s Aurora Forecast.

“The reason it’s gonna be big this weekend is there’s been a coronal mass ejection,” said Geophysical Institute public information officer Sue Mitchell. “There’s a hole in the sun’s magnetic field that allowed a lot of solar material to escape.”

The aurora is caused by those particles from the sun running into the earth’s magnetic field and interacting with the electrons there, Mitchell said. The reason the aurora is concentrated at the poles is due to the shape of the magnetosphere.

Mitchell said that the activity of the aurora is unlikely to affect anything besides creating interference for radios, but that’s not always been the case. A 1989 solar storm knocked out all power for the entire province of Quebec.

“Space weather can affect things like electrical grids,” Mitchell said. “There have been times when a really active aurora has blown transformers and damaged the power grid.”

Mitchell said Saturday’s aurora will be caused by a G2 geomagnetic storm, or a moderate strength storm. The storm that blacked out Quebec was a G5 strength storm, the strongest classification. Alaska is actually in better shape than the Lower 48 would be in the case of a major geomagnetic storm, Mitchell said, due to its many independent power grids rather than large interconnected grids.

Know & Go

The aurora will be most visible here between midnight and 3 a.m. on Saturday night/ Sunday morning. It will be most easily visible in areas far from artificial light. The storm may appear to dissipate, only to come back.


• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 523-2271 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.


More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 1

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Two flags with pro-life themes, including the lower one added this week to one that’s been up for more than a year, fly along with the U.S. and Alaska state flags at the Governor’s House on Tuesday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Doublespeak: Dunleavy adds second flag proclaiming pro-life allegiance at Governor’s House

First flag that’s been up for more than a year joined by second, more declarative banner.

Students play trumpets at the first annual Jazz Fest in 2024. (Photo courtesy of Sandy Fortier)
Join the second annual Juneau Jazz Fest to beat the winter blues

Four-day music festival brings education of students and Southeast community together.

Frank Richards, president of the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., speaks at a Jan. 6, 2025, news conference held in Anchorage by Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Dunleavy and Randy Ruaro, executive director of the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, are standing behind RIchards. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
For fourth consecutive year, gas pipeline boss is Alaska’s top-paid public executive

Sen. Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, had the highest compensation among state legislators after all got pay hike.

Juneau Assembly Member Maureen Hall (left) and Mayor Beth Weldon (center) talk to residents during a break in an Assembly meeting Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, about the establishment of a Local Improvement District that would require homeowners in the area to pay nearly $6,300 each for barriers to protect against glacial outburst floods. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Flood district plan charging property owners nearly $6,300 each gets unanimous OK from Assembly

117 objections filed for 466 properties in Mendenhall Valley deemed vulnerable to glacial floods.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Friday, Jan. 31, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

University of Alaska President Pat Pitney gives the State of the University address in Juneau on Jan. 30, 2025. She highlighted the wide variety of educational and vocational programs as creating opportunities for students, and for industries to invest in workforce development and the future of Alaska’s economy. (Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
University of Alaska president highlights impact on workforce, research and economy in address

Pat Pitney also warns “headwinds” are coming with federal executive orders and potential budget cuts.

Most Read