Northern lights may be visible in NY this weekend. What to know

New Yorkers may once again have a chance to see the northern lights paint the sky this weekend if the forecasted cloudy conditions ease up.

A G2 geomagnetic storm watch is in effect this weekend, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center , causing the aurora borealis to possibly become visible over some northern and upper Midwest states from New York to Idaho.

By comparison, the May 10 geomagnetic storm that made the aurora visible across a wide stretch of the U.S. was rated a G5, the most extreme, and brought the northern lights to all 50 states.

Here's what to expect.

Aurora borealis forecast in upstate NY

Viewing conditions in the Rochester region this weekend may be less than ideal as Saturday night's forecast looks to be mostly cloudy, according to the National Weather Service of Buffalo . You might have a better chance of seeing the lights Sunday night though, as the NWS is forecasting partly cloudy skies with a slight chance of showers.

What is the aurora borealis? How do the northern lights work?

Auroras are ribbons of light that weave across Earth's northern or southern polar regions, according to NASA . Geomagnetic storms that have been triggered by solar activity, such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections like those that occurred this weekend, cause them. The solar wind carries energetic charged particles from these events away from the sun.

These energized particles hit the atmosphere at 45 million mph and are redirected to the poles by the earth's magnetic field, according to Space.com , creating the light show.

During major geomagnetic storms, the auroras expand away from the poles and can be seen over some parts of the United States, according to NOAA .

Fall weather: What the Old Farmer's Almanac is predicting for fall weather in New York

What are solar cycles? What is the solar maximum?

The current level of heightened activity on the sun is because we are near the peak of the solar cycle.

Solar cycles track the activity level of the sun, our nearest star. A cycle is traditionally measured by the rise and fall in the number of sunspots, but it also coincides with increases in solar flares, coronal mass ejections, radio emissions and other forms of space weather.

The number of sunspots on the sun's surface changes on a fairly regular cycle, which scientists refer to as the sun's 11-year solar cycle. Sunspot activity, and hence auroral activity, tends to peak every 11 years.

Sunspots produce solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which create the geomagnetic storms here on Earth that cause the aurora to appear.

"We are entering the peak of Solar Cycle 25," Erica Grow Cei , a spokesperson for the National Weather Service , told USA TODAY recently.

"This period of heightened activity is expected to last into the first half of 2025," she said, meaning that additional chances for seeing the aurora will continue for at least the next year.

Emily Barnes is the New York State Team consumer advocate reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @byemilybarnes . Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Northern lights may be visible in NY this weekend. What to know