We present a global magnetospheric simulation of the initial period of the January 10--11, 1997 magnetic cloud event. Model magnetospheric boundaries mapped to the ionosphere are compared to UVI images of the auroral oval from 1:00 to 4:30 UT. The convection reversal boundary generally matches the UVI equatorward boundary and is almost always poleward of the boundary separating Region 1 and Region 2 currents. The separatrix between open and closed magnetic field lines matches the poleward boundary of the UVI images well during quiet periods. During dynamic periods when the separatrix moves several degrees in latitude in some sectors, the poleward boundary of the Region 1 currents matches the UVI images better. ¿ 1998 American Geophysical Union