Where You Can See the Northern Lights Tonight

The Northern Lights are set to light up the skies tonight, so where exactly will you be able to see them?

A powerful geomagnetic storm is delivering one of the most spectacular celestial shows of the year, with the northern lights expected to dance across the skies of nearly two dozen states tonight.

The rare solar event has already painted vivid displays of red, purple, and green hues, and forecasters say the best may still be yet to come.

What are the Northern Lights?

The northern lights, formally known as the aurora borealis, are one of nature’s most breathtaking phenomena

These colorful light displays occur when charged particles from the sun, primarily protons and electrons, collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere.

The interaction between the sun’s plasma and Earth’s magnetic field creates brilliant waves of light that shimmer and dance across the night sky.

In the northern hemisphere, this phenomenon is called aurora borealis, while in the southern hemisphere, it’s known as aurora australis.

The colors you see depend on which atmospheric gases are being energized: oxygen produces green and red hues, while nitrogen creates purple and blue tones.

What causes tonight’s display?

The current spectacular display is being driven by coronal mass ejections (CMEs), massive eruptions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s outer atmosphere that travel at incredibly high speeds toward Earth.

According to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, two CMEs have already reached our planet, producing a G4-level geomagnetic storm, which is the second-highest rating on a five-step scale.

Shawn Dahl, a forecaster at the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado, explained to that the magnetic field strength from these CMEs is not only eight times stronger than normal but also perfectly positioned to create sustained auroral activity.

Even more exciting, a third and potentially more powerful CME is expected to arrive on Wednesday afternoon, which could push the storm to G5, the highest possible rating, and make the northern lights visible even farther south.

“Watches at this level are very rare,” the Space Weather Prediction Center stated in an advisory, noting that the magnetic cloud at the heart of the CME will continue passing over Earth through the overnight hours.

How to see the Northern Lights

To maximize your chances of witnessing this celestial spectacle, timing and location are everything.

The best viewing window is typically between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, when skies are at their darkest. According to NOAA, per the northern lights are usually most visible from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Central Time.

For optimal viewing, head far away from city lights to an open area with a clear view of the northern horizon. Rural locations, parks, or elevated areas work best.

Let your eyes adjust to the darkness for at least 20 minutes, the aurora often starts as a faint glow before bursting into vibrant, rippling curtains of color.

You don’t need any special equipment to see the lights, though your smartphone’s Night Mode can capture stunning photos. For photography enthusiasts with DSLR or mirrorless cameras, use a tripod and manual mode settings for the best results.

While the geomagnetic storm creates beautiful light shows, it can also cause some technical disruptions.

Forecasters have warned that the magnetic storm could lead to power fluctuations, GPS degradation, and intermittent disruptions to radio communications. However, these effects are typically minor and managed by infrastructure operators who prepare for such events.

Where can you see the Northern Lights tonight?

The northern lights should be visible across at least 21 states starting Tuesday night, November 11, through early Wednesday morning, November 12.

The most recent NOAA aurora forecast map indicates that residents in certain states have the best chances of witnessing the display.

Alaska, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming are all in luck!

Your chances improve the farther north you are, but with the intensity of this particular storm, even stargazers in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions may catch glimpses of faint shimmers on the northern horizon.

With the third, most powerful CME expected to arrive on Wednesday, the aurora could become visible even farther south than the states listed above.

If the skies are clear in your area and you’re within the viewing zone, don’t miss this rare opportunity to witness one of nature’s most magnificent displays.