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Skywatchers in parts of 15 northern U.S. states could be in for a show of Northern Lights after dark on Sunday, Jan. 18, according to a forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
The forecast is for a G1 or G2-level geomagnetic storm as the after-effects of a coronal mass ejection — a cloud of charged particles ejected from the sun — interacts with Earth’s magnetic field.
Northern Lights Forecast: What To Expect
Auroras occur when charged particles from the solar wind accelerate down Earth’s magnetic field lines and collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms high in the atmosphere. These collisions excite the gases, which then release energy as shimmering light.
As night falls in North America on Sunday, Jan. 18, a fast stream of solar wind escaping from a coronal hole — a gap in the sun’s outer atmosphere — is expected to reach Earth, causing “active to G1 (Minor) storm levels ” according to a NOAA discussion.
A G1 geomagnetic storm could produce auroras for northern parts of Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and northern Michigan, while a G2 could be seen as far south as Wisconsin, Washington, Idaho, and possibly as far south as Iowa or northern Illinois.
Northern Lights Forecast: Where And When To Look
According to NOAA’s aurora view line, the Northern Lights are most likely in higher-latitude regions. U.S. states that may see aurora include Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine.
If stronger displays are triggered, faint auroras may also be visible low on the northern horizon in extreme northern regions of Wyoming, South Dakota, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. However, states farther north will always have the best odds.
The exact timing of space weather is tricky to predict because it depends on the speed of the solar wind. Continually monitor NOAA’s 30-minute aurora forecast and SpaceWeatherLive.com, as well as apps such as Aurora Now, My Aurora Forecast, SpaceWeatherLive or Glendale Aurora, which provide live solar wind data.
Northern Lights Forecast: The Night Sky On Jan 16-17
NOAA’s latest forecast calls for a heightened geomagnetic activity as darkness falls on Jan. 18, the date of a new moon. That means the darkest possible night skies since the moon is lost in the sun’s glare during the day and doesn’t appear at night. As a consequence, even faint auroras are likely to be visible, though any auroras that do appear will likely do so low on the northern horizon from northern U.S. states.
How To Observe The Northern Lights
Since this may be a photographic aurora, for the best views, locate a dark place using the Dark Sky Place Finder and a light pollution map. The darker the northern sky, the more vibrant the display — even during moderate geomagnetic storms. A clear northern sky will be required.
Even during moderate storms, auroras can appear as faint, gray or milky arcs to the naked eye, while appearing vivid in photographs. Modern smartphones are capable aurora cameras when conditions cooperate. Enable Night Mode or Pro Mode, use the main camera lens, and stabilize the phone with a tripod or solid surface.
What Causes The Northern Lights
Auroras occur when charged particles from the solar wind accelerate down Earth’s magnetic field lines and collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms high in the atmosphere. These collisions excite the gases, which then release energy as shimmering light.
Although the sun is thought to have reached solar maximum — the peak of its 11-year activity cycle — in late 2024, the years immediately following often remain volatile, with strong Northern Lights expected sporadically throughout 2026.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.