Latest Northern Lights Forecast: Aurora Could Be Visible In These States Tonight

On Monday night, several states in the continental U.S. could have the chance to see the Northern Lights. This comes after a powerful solar flare led to solar eruptions over the weekend, increasing the likelihood of aurora sightings in northern and Midwestern regions.

VIK, SOUTH ICELAND: Stunning display of the Northern Lights illuminating the sky above the Hotel Ranga tourist resort in Hella, South Iceland. (Image credit: Tim Graham/Getty Images)

The aurora on Monday night has a Kp index of five, indicating that the lights will be more vibrant and visually appealing, provided the weather is favorable, as stated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

This follows a powerful G3 geomagnetic storm that resulted in Sunday’s aurora reaching a Kp index of seven. NOAA cautioned that the storm could disrupt radio signals, GPS connections, and even trigger false alarms on certain safety devices.

The storm was triggered by a solar X flare, a burst of energy that reached its highest point on Saturday. This event triggered a coronal mass ejection, which is essentially an explosion of solar material, that impacted Earth on Sunday and Monday, resulting in beautiful auroras.

Where Can You See The Northern Lights?

While it's difficult to predict the exact locations for the Northern Lights, they are likely to be most visible on Monday evening in Canada and Alaska, according to NOAA (refer to the image below). However, some states in the continental U.S. are also in the path of the aurora, including Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Monday evening's sight line.

The Best Way To Experience The Northern Lights

The Northern Lights are usually at their most vibrant between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. To enjoy the best sights of this stunning phenomenon, experts recommend heading as near to the poles as you can. It's important to steer clear of city lights and other sources of light pollution, keep an eye on weather reports for the best viewing conditions, and choose a spot on an elevated area, such as a hilltop.

Best Tips For Capturing The Northern Lights

Smartphone cameras have the ability to capture the aurora, even when it can't be seen without assistance. According to Iceland's tourism site, which showcases the beauty of the lights in the region, enabling night mode on your phone can help enhance its exposure for better photographs.

Solar Cycle 25, which occurs roughly every 11 years, has recently sparked geomagnetic storms that have led to impressive displays of the Northern Lights. NASA anticipates that this cycle will continue into next year. It kicked off in December 2019 and is expected to reach its peak—marked by increased solar activity—sometime between late 2024 and early 2026. During this peak, scientists predict there will be around 115 sunspots, which are the sources of these geomagnetic storms. While we haven't yet hit the peak, solar activity has been more intense than scientists predicted, suggesting that we might experience even more geomagnetic storms before 2026. However, accurately forecasting the exact timing of these events remains challenging.

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