Updated Northern Lights Forecast: Here’s Where You will Be Able To See Aurora Borealis Tonight..
Topline
A number of northern U.S. states may be able to catch a glimpse of the northern lights Sunday night into Monday morning, according to the latest forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration—following a geomagnetic storm that lit up the sky last week.
Key Facts
The aurora borealis forecast for Sunday night has a Kp index of three on a scale of nine, which means the aurora “will become brighter and there will be more” motion and formations visible if you are in the right place, according to NOAA.
On Saturday, NOAA forecasted that Sunday night would feature a slightly stronger aurora, with a Kp index of four, which could have made the lights visible as far south as central South Dakota and southern Minnesota.
The northern lights are visible due to geomagnetic activity, which leads to the collision of ions with Earth’s atmospheric gasses that creates auroral displays.
The ability to view the northern lights on Sunday follows a week in which many people saw magnificent auroral displays because of a geomagnetic storm that brought abnormally strong showings as far south as Texas.
Where Will The Northern Lights Be Visible From?
NOAA predicted the northern lights may be visible from the far northeast corner of Washington, the tip of Idaho, about half of Montana and Minnesota, North Dakota and the northern parts of Wisconsin and Michigan.
What Is The Best Way To View The Northern Lights?
The northern lights are best seen away from city lights in a high, dark location between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. NOAA advises people trying to see the lights to get to a good vantage point, like the top of a hill, and to give themselves an unobstructed view facing north.
How Do You Photograph The Northern Lights?
People trying to take pictures of the northern lights on smartphones should use night mode and lower their shutter speeds to better capture the aurora’s movement.
Key Background
Solar activity has been busy in recent months because the sun’s 11-year solar cycle—Solar Cycle 25—is nearing its peak, which is expected to hit sometime between late 2024 and early 2026. Sunspots (areas where geomagnetic storms originate) are expected to continue intensifying as the cycle, which began in December 2019, nears and hits its peak. It is possible that viewings continue to be frequent ahead of the peak, but it is difficult for scientists to predict exactly when storms will occur.
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