Current Northern Lights Forecast: This week’s map by Sites across the United States shows the states with the best chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis tonight.
A G1-class geomagnetic storm, classified as “minor” by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is expected to make aurora borealis visible in 10 states Monday night, as well as possibly along the New York-Canadian border..
A spike in solar activity over the last week—starting with a solar flare detected by NASA’s satellites on Thursday—in combination with the peak of the sun’s solar cycle and a geomagnetic storm are pushing the northern lights’ viewline into the northern United States..
The geomagnetic storm expected Monday will have a Kp index of up to 5, according to NOA, which means the aurora will move further from the poles, becoming brighter and “quite pleasing to look at.”
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WHERE WILL THE NORTHERN LIGHTS BE VISIBLE?
Alaska and Canada will have a high chance of seeing the aurora borealis on Monday, in addition to parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin and Maine. (See view line below.)
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS..
The northern lights will be the most visible between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time and are most visible further from the light pollution of major metropolitan areas. The lights will be best seen under cloudless skies.
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO PHOTOGRAPH THE NORTHERN LIGHTS?
Aurora borealis can be best photographed via smartphone by turning on night mode and using a low shutter speed. On a regular camera, focus should be set to the farthest possible point using a wide aperture, low shutter speed and high ISO.
KEY BACKGROUND
Solar activity is currently at a 23-year high and NOAA and NASA say activity on the sun’s surface has hit a “solar maximum” that will mean intense Northern Lights are likely for the next year. The sun’s solar cycle is expected to continue its peak into 2025 and early 2026 and dramatic activity on the surface of the sun—including sunspots and coronal mass ejections—could push visibility of the lights as far south as Texas.
