Northern Lights Could Dazzle Farther South Than Usual Tonight—Spanning More Than 20 States

April might end with a brilliant show of light.

Tonight, auroras could be visible across parts of the northern U.S. According to the latest forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), minor G1 geomagnetic storm conditions are expected to develop today due to the anticipated arrival of fast solar wind from an Earth-facing coronal hole. Conditions are expected to ease by tomorrow.

Based on the current forecasted aurora view line, which indicates the southernmost point where viewers may see the auroras, states with the best chance of experiencing the northern lights include Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine.

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The northern lights are a result of the charged particles in solar wind colliding with oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the atmosphere. The excited gases release energy as shimmering light, also known as the northern lights. Tonight, April 30, a high-speed stream of solar wind may escalate geomagnetic activity, resulting in auroras as far south as Illinois.

If you want to catch 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.