A Stunning Northern Lights Display Is Expected Tonight—Find Out Where to See It

Ten states are within the viewing range.

Northern lights glowing above a forest of evergreen trees and snowcovered ground
Credit:

Dean Bailey / Getty Images
  • The northern lights may be visible tonight across several northern U.S. states, including Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center.
  • Auroral activity is expected to be moderate, with the Kp index forecast to peak at 4 out of 9, a level that can produce brighter displays and increased auroral activity.
  • Viewers are advised to seek dark, north-facing locations and use phone cameras to help detect faint displays.

If you live in parts of the northern U.S., you might be able to spot a dazzling display of the northern lights tonight, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).

Right now, based on the latest predictions, Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine are fully or partially above the aurora view line, which indicates the southernmost point where the northern lights could be spotted.

According to the most recent forecast, the Kp index is expected to peak at 4 on a scale of 9. The higher the number, the further south the northern lights could appear. Within this range, auroras can be "brighter, and there will be more auroral activity," according to the agency.

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The northern lights are a result of electrons from geomagnetic storms and solar winds colliding with oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth's atmosphere, causing them to become "excited" and release energy in the form of colorful green, blue, and pink streaks.

If you live in an area expected to experience the northern lights, bundle up and head to a north-facing point with a clear view of the horizon, far away from light pollution. Because it's better at picking up faint auroras than the naked eye, use your phone's camera to scan the sky to spot the aurora borealis.

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