What time are Northern Lights Tonight? Here’s where Aurora Borealis will be visible

A new solar eruption is hurtling through the cosmos toward Earth, bringing the possibility of dazzling auroras in the night sky. This Thursday night, many Americans will have the chance to witness the display of green and red lights known as the Aurora Borealis, thanks to a “severe” geomagnetic storm forecasted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This warning is due to a coronal mass ejection generating a G4 geomagnetic storm, the second of its kind this year.

While the solar storm poses risks to satellites, GPS signals, and power grids, it’s good news for aurora enthusiasts. The interaction of solar particles with Earth’s magnetosphere will allow the phenomenon to be visible over a wider area of the northern hemisphere.

Where will the Auroras will be visible in the US?

Northern parts of the United States are forecasted to have a high likelihood of seeing auroras this Friday, October 11. While auroras are best seen at the poles, intense geomagnetic storms can make them visible further south.

This Thursday’s incoming geomagnetic storm has a Kp index of 8, meaning the auroras could reach as far south as the equator and will be very bright and active. According to NOAA, “These are the events that create the best auroras, and the extended auroral oval will be observable by more people.” It’s possible they could be seen directly overhead in northern states.

Projections suggest that auroras might be visible across much of the northern half of the United States, potentially as far south as Alabama and northern California, depending on local weather conditions and light pollution.

States best positioned for aurora viewing include:

• Alaska
• Washington
• Idaho
• Montana
• North Dakota
• Minnesota
• Michigan
• Wisconsin

There may also be “highly active” auroras in parts of Nevada, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and North Carolina, according to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute.

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When Is the best time to see the Northern Lights tonight?

The best aurora can typically be viewed between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. in areas featuring little to no light pollution and clear skies.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also encourages aurora viewers to watch from a vantage point such as a hill.