Northern Lights Update: These 15 States May See Aurora Sunday Night After Solar Flares
Aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights is seen on May 11, 2024 in Manning Park, ... More British Columbia, Canada. Places as far south as Alabama and parts of Northern California were expected to see the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights from a powerful geomagnetic storm that reached Earth. (Photo by)
The Northern Lights may be seen in 15 northern U.S. states and along the U.S.-the Canada border this Sunday after space weather forecasters upgraded predictions of geomagnetic storm conditions.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center's forecast has a G1-rated geomagnetic storm overnight on Sunday, May 18 through Sunday, May 19.
It comes in the wake of the biggest solar flare in 2025 so far, as X1.2 and X2.7 solar flares — intense bursts of energy and electromagnetic radiation — were ejected by the sun on May 13 and May 14. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength, according to NASA. It's just over a year since an extreme G5 geomagnetic storm on May 10-11, 2024 judged as the strongest for 20 years saw aurora down to the equator.
Solar activity is currently at a 23-year high, though slightly on the wane since the solar maximum in late-2024.
A G1 geomagnetic storm is forecast to begin around 18:00 UTC on Sunday, May 18 through 09:00 UTC on Monday, May 19. That makes aurora possible in the hours of darkness in timezones throughout North America.
Forecasts have to be taken with a pinch of salt. The geomagnetic storm could, in practice, turn out to begin sooner or later, and be either a weaker display or a stronger G2 geomagnetic storm.
During G1 storms, aurora is commonly visible at high latitudes — such as northern Michigan and Maine — according to NOAA. G2 storms are generally seen as far south as New York and Idaho.
If there is auroral activity, U.S. states within NOAA's aurora viewline are in the best position to see it. Those 15 states are Alaska, Washington, northern Oregon, Idaho, northern Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Regions closest to the border with Canada will have the highest possibility of seeing the aurora.
NOAA's aurora viewline forecast for Sunday, May 18, 2025.
The predicted displays of aurora borealis have a predicted Kp index of 5. The Kp index is an imperfect measure of how far from the poles the aurora oval reaches. According to NOAA, during a Kp 3-5 display, '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.'
Space weather is unpredictable and the forecast can change quickly. Skywatchers are advised to check NOAA's Aurora view line, which is available for tonight and tomorrow night, as well as its 30-minute forecast and X account, where the latest forecasts are posted. Use the Glendale App for up-to-the-minute forecasts.
Aurora is typically seen in polar regions at around latitudes of 70 degrees north and south, but during strong geomagnetic conditions the auroral oval can bulge, with displays then seen as far as 40 degrees north and south.
If your smartphone has a 'Night Mode' feature, that should be good enough to get a more than impressive souvenir shot of the aurora. It likely means a long exposure of between five and 10 seconds, which will look much better if you do three things:
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
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