A minor to strong geomagnetic storm watch is in effect through Friday.

The aurora should be visible from North Idaho.

The Space Weather Prediction Center of the U.S. National Weather Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as of Wednesday afternoon is rating today's geomagnetic storm as a "G3" — Wide area blackout of high frequency radio communication and loss of radio contact for about an hour on sunlit side of Earth as well as an hour or degraded low-frequency navigation signals.

Most affected by geomagnetic storms are the electrical power grid, spacecraft operations, users of radio signals that reflect off or pass through the ionosphere and observers of the aurora.

"A G3 storm has the potential to drive the aurora further away from its normal polar residence, and if other factors come together, the aurora might be seen over portions of Pennsylvania, Iowa, to northern Oregon," the Space Weather Prediction Center reported Tuesday.

Friday's storm is expected to downgrade to a "G2" moderate event.

Geomagnetic storms are likely caused by coronal high speed stream and coronal mass ejection influences, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center.

Being able to view the aurora depends on geomagnetic activity — the degree of disturbance of the earth's magnetic field at the time — and the viewer's geographic location. Weather, light pollution and moon phase may also affect a viewing experience.

Those at a high latitude are more likely to see an aurora. It should be easily visible even when its boundary is 4 or 5 degrees poleward of the viewer's location.

Using the Kp Index, which refers to geomagnetic activity for a three-hour period, and the Space Weather Prediction Center's bar plot of Estimated Planetary Kp, aurora-seekers can check their magnetic latitude to see if the polar lights are visible from their location.

Info: www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/tips-viewing-aurora