Northern Lights Expected to Illuminate Skies Across Multiple U.S. States Tonight

A minor geomagnetic storm forecasted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center may make the aurora borealis visible tonight across more than a dozen U.S. states. Residents in Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine could witness the northern lights, as indicated by NOAA's aurora viewline map.

The auroras are expected to be particularly vibrant due to the current lunar phase. With the moon rising in the early morning hours, the night sky will be darker, enhancing the visibility of pink and green hues. Optimal viewing times are between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. local time.

Auroras occur when atoms and molecules in Earth's atmosphere interact with solar flares, causing the upper atmosphere to glow and create colorful displays in the night sky. The sun's magnetic field reached its solar maximum phase in October, leading to increased sunspots and magnetic activity, which have resulted in more frequent auroral activity over the past year. This heightened solar activity is expected to continue through 2026.

For the best viewing experience, the Space Weather Prediction Center recommends traveling away from city lights to the darkest location possible. Smartphones and digital cameras may capture the auroras even if they are not visible to the naked eye, as these devices are more sensitive to the array of colors. Additionally, the citizen science platform Aurorasaurus allows users to sign up for real-time alerts of northern lights sightings based on user reports.