Northern Lights Forecast: See the Aurora Borealis This Week! Geomagnetic storms predicted for Thursday and the weekend will bring the aurora borealis to parts of the northern US and Canada. States with the best chance include Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Learn where to see this stunning celestial display and tips for optimal viewing
Northern Lights Forecast: Moderate Geomagnetic Storms to Bring Aurora Borealis Displays This Week. NOAA predicts minor to moderate geomagnetic storms Thursday and Saturday, increasing chances of aurora borealis sightings across the northern US and Canada. Kp index forecasts suggest vibrant displays, especially in northern states and Alaska
Northern Lights Forecast: Kp3 Aurora Display Expected Thursday! Stargazers in northern US states and Canada could witness a pleasing aurora borealis display Thursday night, with a Kp index of 3 (out of 9). More active displays are predicted further from the poles. Check the forecast for optimal viewing locations including parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan
Northern Lights Forecast: Thursday's Aurora Borealis Show Possible Across US. Following minor geomagnetic storms, NOAA forecasts a Kp3 aurora display Thursday night, potentially visible across parts of the northern US, including Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Increased aurora activity is expected later this week
Some “minor” to “moderate” geomagnetic storms are expected Saturday night because of sustained solar winds, NOAA said, which could increase the Kp index forecast to nearly six, though a Kp index of four is projected for Friday.
Most of Canada and Alaska will have a higher chance of seeing the northern lights, with a lesser opportunity forecast for parts of northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. (See map below.)
Thursday’s view line.
About 10 states will have an opportunity to view the northern lights Friday, with a lower chance forecast for Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine, with the highest likelihood forecast for Alaska.
NOAA suggests traveling to a high, north-facing and unobstructed vantage point away from light pollution between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time.
If using a smartphone, NASA recommends using a tripod to stabilize the image, enabling night mode and disabling flash. With a regular camera, photography experts told National Geographic it’s best to use a wide-angle lens, an aperture or F-stop of four or less and a focus set to the furthest possible setting.
Geomagnetic storms disrupt Earth’s magnetic fields around the north and south poles, where electrons accelerate and “bombard” the upper atmosphere while creating aurora borealis. More aurora borealis displays are expected through early 2026, according to projections from NASA and NOAA, after a “solar maximum” was reached on the sun’s surface last year. This peak, achieved periodically over the sun’s 11-year cycle, represents an increase in solar events like solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These events are also responsible for the northern lights, as electrons from these events collide with molecules of oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing them to become “excited” before releasing energy in the form of swirling lights.
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