Topline A large portion of northern U.S. states may see the northern lights on Thursday night, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast, which predicts a strong display of the natural phenomenon amid a potentially severe geomagnetic storm.
Parts of the northern United States are forecast to have a high likelihood of seeing the aurora, including Alaska and the northernmost portions of Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin. The central and southern parts of those states have a somewhat lower likelihood of seeing the phenomenon, as well as Wyoming, South Dakota and northern Iowa. More than a dozen other states have a chance at seeing the northern lights in some areas: Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
The optimum aurora viewing times are often between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. in places with little to no light pollution and clear skies. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also recommends that aurora spectators watch from a vantage position, such as a hill. How Can You Photograph the Lights? Low shutter speeds and night mode will be essential for anyone hoping to photograph the aurora with their smartphones.
Should Thursday night’s forecast prove accurate, viewers in the northern U.S. will get one of the best chances at seeing the northern lights in the last few months, when KP indexes of four or five were usually forecast. Luckily, for those who miss out on the aurora this time around, solar activity is expected to increase as the peak of Solar Cycle 25 should arrive between late 2024 and early 2026. The cycle can create a jump in sunspots and geomagnetic storms that could contribute to stronger aurora forecasts.
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