High-speed winds from a spot on the sun’s surface may disrupt Earth’s magnetic field Tuesday, likely creating geomagnetic storm conditions that could make the northern lights appear in some northern U.S. states, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Winds from a spot on the sun’s surface may affect Earth’s magnetic field, forecasters said.
AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
NOAA forecasts a Kp index of five on a scale of nine for Tuesday, meaning the northern lights will be “quite pleasing to look at” as the phenomenon moves further away from the poles and “become[s] brighter.”
NOAA issued a geomagnetic storm watch because of a coronal hole high-speed stream—winds from a cooler, less dense area on the sun’s surface—and a recent coronal mass ejection that could disrupt Earth’s magnetic field and pull the northern lights further south.
Auroral activity will likely increase into late Tuesday, according to NOAA’s three-day forecast, with a maximum Kp index of nearly six expected.
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Where Will The Northern Lights Be Visible?
There’s a higher likelihood of viewing the northern lights in northern Canada and Alaska, while the view line—marking at least a minimal opportunity—sweeps below the Canadian border. A lower chance to see the phenomenon is possible in northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, northern Montana, North Dakota, northern Minnesota and Upper Michigan. The lowest likelihood is forecast for areas in Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. (See view line below.)
Tuesday night’s view line.
NOAA
What’s The Best Way To See The Northern Lights?
Northern lights displays are best seen between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time while at a high vantage point away from light pollution, according to the NOAA.
What’s The Best Way To Photograph The Northern Lights?
If using a regular camera, capturing the northern lights is easiest if using a wide-angle lens and tripod to stabilize the camera, according to National Geographic. Settings should be adjusted for lower light images, with an aperture or F-stop of four or less. If using a smartphone, it’s recommended to turn on night mode and disable flash.
Key Background
The colorful displays of the aurora borealis result from electrons from solar events interacting with molecules and atoms of nitrogen in the Earth’s atmosphere. This activity causes the electrons to become “excited” before producing an array of lights. Activity on the sun’s surface achieved a “solar maximum” in October 2024, which NASA said will likely persist into early 2026. Solar activity is measured over 11-year periods, during which a “solar maximum” and “solar minimum” are achieved. The latest “solar maximum” resulted in a 500-year peak for auroral activity in 2024, with the strongest geomagnetic storm in the last two decades affecting Earth in May. This event pulled the northern lights as far south as Texas and northern Florida.
Further Reading
