:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(745x249:747x251)/Northern-Lights-072324-tout-143bb738293c472aa6c9b0623d452d1f.jpg "How to Watch Rare Display of the Northern Lights This Week")
Your aurora forecast is 100 percent chance of dazzling lights!
A recent coronal mass ejection (CME) is about to shake up Earth’s magnetic field this week, and it’s bringing the northern lights to some new places as early as Tuesday night, according to NOAA.
With a Kp index of 6 (scaling between 0 and 9), the sky will feature a colorful aurora show, making the lights all the brighter and visible along the northern U.S.
According to SpaceWeather.com, forecasters are predicting geomagnetic storms to reach a category G3 (strong), caused by a double eruption on the sun.
This surge in aurora activity is part of an ongoing series of geomagnetic storms since mid-2024, with the northern lights even reaching as far south as northern Florida.
According to NASA, all of this is happening as the sun hits its “solar maximum,” an active phase in its 11-year cycle.
The auroras should stick around for the week, so get ready for a spectacular display!
Read on for how and when to watch.
When will the northern lights be visible?
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If you’re in the right spots, you won’t want to miss these breathtaking views!
According to NOAA, the Kp index will peak on Wednesday, April 16, possibly stretching across up to 18 states, and then dropping to 4 on Thursday, April 17. Separate predictions show the likelihood of catching a round of auroras as early as Tuesday, April 15.
Where will the northern lights be visible?
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Up to 18 states will have a chance to see the northern lights this week!
However, your best bet for seeing the northern lights, as noted by NOAA, is in Alaska, northeastern Montana, northern North Dakota, northern Minnesota and northern Canada. There’s a smaller chance in places like Washington, northern Idaho, northern Wisconsin and upper Michigan, and even less of a chance in states like Oregon, Wyoming, South Dakota and Iowa.
How to watch the northern lights?
If you’re trying to catch a glimpse of the show, NOAA says head to a high, north-facing spot away from the city between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Experts recommend a wide-angle lens with an aperture of f/4 or lower, or just switch your phone to night mode and leave the flash off, if you’re looking to take photos of the colorful display.