The Northern Lights could visible Monday night after a geomagnetic storm was predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
It follows a 10-hour display of auroras on Saturday, March 8 and into Sunday, March 9, according to SpaceWeather.com, which reports that displays were seen from New York to Utah.
A minor G1 geomagnetic storm had been forecast in advance, but what transpired was a G2 geomagnetic storm — a reminder how unpredictable displays of aurora can be. However, with a bright moon — waxing towards full for Thursday’s total lunar eclipse — faint aurora will likely be hard to see.
Aurora Forecast Tonight: Geomagnetic Storm
The Northern Lights could be visible Monday night after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted a geomagnetic storm.
It follows a 10-hour display of auroras on Saturday, March 8 and into Sunday, March 9, according to SpaceWeather.com, which reports that displays were seen from New York to Utah.
A minor G1 geomagnetic storm had been forecast in advance, but what transpired was a G2 geomagnetic storm — a reminder of how unpredictable displays of aurora can be. However, with a bright moon — waxing towards full for Thursday’s total lunar eclipse — faint aurora will likely be hard to see.
Aurora Forecast Tonight: Where
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center forecasts that a G1 geomagnetic storm — caused by a burst of charged particles from the sun — will make aurora visible in clear skies. However, in practice, it could be either a stronger G2.
According to NOAA, G1 storms can be seen from Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine, G2 storms from New York and central Idaho, G3 storms from Illinois and Oregon and G4 storms as far south as Alabama and northern California.
A G5 storm — as experienced on May 10-11 and Oct. 10-11 in 2025 — can see aurora down to Florida, Arizona, and worldwide.
Aurora Forecast Tonight: When
NOAA’s forecast predicts that the highest levels of geomagnetic activity will occur about 21:00-00:00 UTC (5:00-8:00 p.m. EDT) on Monday, March 10, 2025.
Aurora results from interactions between the solar wind and Earth’s magnetic field. Most displays are down to geomagnetic storms caused by an intense solar wind powered by coronal mass ejections. These clouds of charged particles leaving the sun — usually in the wake of a solar flare — travel to Earth over a few days and interact with Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field.
Aurora Forecast Tonight: Intensity
The potential displays of aurora borealis tonight have a predicted Kp index of 4.67, which provides a rough guide to their intensity. According to NOAA, that means “the aurora will move further from the poles, it will become brighter, and there will be more auroral activity (motion and formations). If you are in the right place, these aurora can be quite pleasing to look at.”
Aurora Forecast Tonight: Latest Updates
Knowing when a geomagnetic storm will begin — and how intense it will be — is all about knowing when a particularly turbulent solar wind reaches Earth and begins interacting with the atmosphere. That’s not easy, but scientists do have a warning system.
Although there is always uncertainty about a prediction of displays of the aurora, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center gets data from sensors on its DSCOVR and ACE satellites, which orbit Earth about a million miles away. They measure the speed and magnetic intensity of the solar wind.
Depending on the speed of the CME, the satellites give about 15-30 minutes warning of a major space weather event — and the resulting displays of aurora. That’s why aurora hunters need to keep an eye on NOAA’s 30-minute forecast, where the latest updates are posted.
Aurora Forecast Tonight: Observing Advice
Many displays of aurora — particularly when seen from cities where light pollution dampens their brightness — are, in practice, “photographic aurora,” which show up much better in a photo than in reality. So keep your smartphone handy — and engage “night mode” or similar — which will give the grey streaks you see in the sky a greenish or reddish color.
Those in regions with low levels of light pollution and a clear sky will get the best view, particularly those with a northern horizon that’s free from artificial light.
Although difficult to predict, auroras are common at present because solar activity is at a 23-year high, with the current solar cycle— which lasts about 11 years — much stronger than the last.
In October, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel confirmed that the sun had reached its “solar maximum” phase, the peak of its 11-year solar cycle. Frequent displays of auroras are expected through 2025 and into 2026.
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Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
