The Northern Lights Are Forecast to Light Up 10 States Tonight—Here’s Where to Look

If you weren't able to catch the northern lights over the weekend, don't worry.

Auroras will remain active again tonight, as lingering fast solar winds continue to buffet Earth's magnetic field, Space.com reports.

According to the current aurora view line from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), which indicates the southernmost point where the lights may be seen, those in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine have the best chance of spotting the displays tonight, March 9.

Forecasters from the U.K.'s Met Office are monitoring a coronal mass ejection (CME) that launched on March 6, which is expected to pass close to Earth today or tonight. While it is most likely to miss, a weak glancing blow could still briefly boost geomagnetic activity, with a slight chance of G1 storms today and tomorrow.

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If you want to see the northern lights, tonight is probably your best bet. Head outside between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time and find a north-facing point with a clear view of the horizon, far away from light pollution. Give your eyes time to adjust and use your phone's camera to scan the sky, as it's better at picking up faint auroras than the naked eye.

Even if you don't spot them tonight, you might have a chance later this month as the spring equinox, March 20, approaches. This is when the Earth’s magnetic field aligns with the solar wind, intensifying the likelihood of auroras.