**Chicagoans Flock to Montrose Point for Rare Aurora Borealis Viewing**

Chicago residents eagerly gathered at Montrose Point in October 2024 for a rare chance to witness the aurora borealis. This spectacular display of the northern lights was predicted to be visible from Sunday night into Monday morning due to a severe geomagnetic storm.

The Space Weather Prediction Center had recorded a geomagnetic storm with a strength of G4, categorizing it as severe, on Sunday morning. The storm's effects were expected to persist into Monday morning, allowing the aurora borealis to be visible as far south as central Illinois. With clear skies forecasted for Sunday night into Monday morning in the Chicago area, eagerly awaiting watchers had a good chance to witness this natural phenomenon.

The geomagnetic storm occurred due to a coronal mass ejection moving past Earth, which carries charged atoms and causes the northern lights to manifest in the sky. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, while the coronal mass ejection was weakening, elevated solar wind conditions on Sunday sustained the storm's classification as severe.

Typically, such intense geomagnetic storms cause the aurora borealis to be visible much farther south than usual. During the most severe storms, the lights can be seen as far south as Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama. However, the intensity of these storms can be unpredictable and change rapidly, necessitating patience from those hoping to catch a glimpse of the lights.

While the atmospheric activity can interfere with GPS systems, power grids, and some communication systems, most modern technology is equipped to handle such disturbances, ensuring that any disruptions remain minimal.

By Monday night, the probability of seeing the northern lights in Chicago was expected to diminish significantly, making Sunday night into Monday morning the prime viewing window for this celestial event.