Topline
There’s a chance the Northern Lights will return to parts of the U.S. Friday night, the latest sightings since May’s historic geometric storms that wowed the country with its colorful displays.
Key Facts
Friday night’s aurora borealis has a Kp index of four, meaning the lights will move further from the poles and appear brighter to observers, causing them to be “pleasing to look at” under the correct viewing conditions, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.
Canada and Alaska have a higher chance of seeing the lights, though they may be visible in many parts of the continental U.S. into the weekend, according to the aurora’s forecast.
The NOAA also announced minor to moderate M-class solar flares—which are intense bursts of radiation caused by the release of magnetic energy from solar spots—are expected throughout the weekend from three regions of the sun with a slight possibility of strong X-class flares, which caused May’s dazzling lights.
Solar activity has been unusually busy in recent months as the sun’s 11-year solar cycle approaches its anticipated peak between late 2024 and early 2026, with sunspots expected to intensify over the next year, and likely triggering more geomagnetic storms.
Where Will The Northern Lights Be Visible Tonight?
Though it’s difficult to pinpoint where exactly the lights will be visible, the NOAA offers a forecast with a potential viewline (see below). States within the viewline include Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and parts of New York.
What’s The Best Way To See The Northern Lights?
The lights are the most active between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. For the best views of the Northern Lights, the agency advises traveling as close to the poles as possible, avoiding city lights and other light pollution, monitoring weather forecasts for prime viewing conditions and finding a position on a vantage point like a hilltop. Smartphone cameras are sensitive enough to pick up the aurora, even when it’s invisible to the naked eye. Visit Iceland, a tourist website for Iceland, where the lights are often visible, advises turning on night mode is best to increase smartphone camera exposure.
Key Background
An event called Solar Cycle 25—the cycle the sun goes through around every 11 years—has been the cause of geomagnetic storms that have resulted in recent sightings of the Northern Lights, and NASA predicts it will continue on into next year. Cycle 25 began in Dec. 2019, and it’s estimated it will reach its maximum—when activity is expected to peak—between late 2024 and early 2026. It’s projected to peak with 115 sunspots, which are where geomagnetic storms originate. Although the maximum hasn’t happened yet, the sun’s activity has been busier than scientists anticipated, so it’s possible there will be even more geomagnetic storms leading up to 2025, though it’s difficult to predict exactly when these storms will occur.
Further Reading
Northern Lights 2024: Here’s When You May See The Next Aurora Borealis (Forbes)
