Northern Lights Could Dazzle 15 U.S. States Tonight—Here’s What to Know
Hey everyone, this is one of those nights you definitely don’t want to miss if you love skywatching. We’re getting a rare opportunity to see the northern lights—also known as the aurora borealis—right here in the United States, and not just in Alaska. Thanks to a geomagnetic storm triggered by a coronal hole on the sun’s surface, people in up to 15 states might catch a glimpse of this stunning phenomenon.
According to NOAA’s latest forecast, a Kp index of 5 is expected tonight on a scale of 1 to 9. For those unfamiliar, that means the northern lights could extend much farther south than usual. Normally you’d have to be pretty far north to see them, but tonight, the aurora might be visible in states like Washington, Montana, North Dakota, and even as far as New York and Iowa. It's kind of amazing, honestly.
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But there’s a catch—you’ll need to be in the right place. Ideal viewing conditions mean getting away from city lights and heading to high ground. Think open skies, low light pollution, and patience. The best time to see them? Between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. If you’re lucky and the skies are clear, you might be treated to rippling waves of green, pink, or even purple light.
This isn’t just a random event either. We’re currently in what NASA calls a "solar maximum," meaning solar activity is peaking, and we’re seeing a ton of solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These events send charged particles toward Earth, which then collide with gases like oxygen and nitrogen in our atmosphere—causing the magical display we call the northern lights.
If you’re into photography, tonight is also a great opportunity. Experts recommend using a wide-angle lens with an F-stop of four or lower, and setting your camera to manual focus at infinity. For smartphone users, night mode is your best friend—just make sure to turn off the flash.
The activity is expected to calm down a bit over the weekend, with the Kp index dropping to around 3. So if you’re going to try and catch the aurora, tonight’s your best shot.
Whether you're in Minnesota, Vermont, or even parts of Michigan and Wisconsin, keep your eyes on the northern horizon. This kind of spectacle doesn’t come around often—especially this far south. So grab a blanket, find a dark spot, and take in one of nature’s most breathtaking shows.
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