The Northern Lights Could Be Visible Tonight in 11 States—Here's Where to Look

Skywatchers, you might want to brave the cold this evening to spot the northern lights put on a celestial show.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), Earth is currently being buffeted by enhanced solar wind speeds of 600 to 700 km/s that are coming from a large hole in the sun's atmosphere. As a result, minor G1 geomagnetic storm conditions are likely to occur on Monday night, resulting in the northern lights.

Auroras could push farther south than usual, particularly across northern Canada, Alaska, and the northern tier of the U.S., such as northern Michigan and Maine.

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Based on the current aurora view line, which indicates the southernmost point where the lights may be seen, those in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine have a chance of spotting a dazzling display tonight.

If you want to try to see the northern lights tonight, head outside between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time and look for a north-facing point with a clear view of the horizon, far away from light pollution. Be sure to 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.