Northern Lights Tonight: 14 States On Aurora Alert On Wednesday Night

Forbes

4 hours ago

The northern lights streak through the sky over a horse barn in Mercer, Maine on May 10, 2024. ... More (Photo by)
The Northern Lights may be visible in the U.S. on Wednesday night, according to a forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center.
Although astronomical darkness is in short supply at northerly latitudes, sky-watchers in 14 U.S. states may have a chance to see the aurora borealis on the northern horizon as soon as it gets dark.
The agency's three-day forecast indicates a minor geomagnetic storm, measured at a value of up to G2 on a scale of G1 to G5. According to NOAA's forecast, the Kp index — which provides a rough guide to the intensity of aurora displays — may reach 5.
According to Spaceweather.com, the stream of turbulent solar wind expected to hit Earth is the result of gaseous material flowing from an equatorial hole in the sun's atmosphere.
Where The Northern Lights May Be Visible
NOAA's latest aurora viewlines indicate that aurora displays are a possibility in northern U.S. states and Canada, with 14 U.S. states having a chance after dark on Wednesday, June 25.
U.S. states that may see aurora include (northerly parts of ) Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Areas far from light pollution are likely to offer the best views. However, with the solstice last week, it doesn't get completely dark at night in late June near the U.S.-Canada border.
Check NOAA's 30-minute forecast or use the Glendale App for the latest forecasts.
NOAA's aurora viewline for Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Why The Northern Lights Are Being Seen In The U.S.
The possibility of displays of the aurora borealis at more southerly latitudes than is typical is down to an increase in solar activity, which is currently at a 23-year high due to the current solar maximum period. The sun is now thought to be on the wane, having peaked in late 2024, but the best aurora displays often occur in the few years after solar maximum. If the current solar cycle does have a long tail, good aurora sightings in the U.S. could result for a few years.
Best Places To See The Northern Lights
Although geomagnetic storms and aurora are expected to continue through 2025 and 2026, the easiest and most reliable way to see the northern lights is to go as far north as possible, ideally to about 65 degrees north latitude, where the auroral oval typically sits (northern Norway, northern Sweden, northern Finland, Iceland, Alaska and northern Canada), It's in these places that you'll get the "wow" factor, with the season — defined by when it gets dark at night — being September through March.
The Aurora Australis, also known as the Southern Lights, glow on the horizon over waters of Lake ... More Ellesmere on the outskirts of Christchurch on May 11, 2024. (Photo by Sanka Vidanagama / AFP) (Photo by SANKA VIDANAGAMA/AFP via Getty Images)
Northern Lights Vs. Southern Lights
The aurora are most frequently seen around the Arctic Circle and Antarctic Circle. The Southern Hemisphere is currently the best place to see aurora. The Southern Lights (aurora australis) are visible from New Zealand's South Island between March and September. The relative lack of landmass in the southerly regions of the Southern Hemisphere makes the aurora australis generally more difficult to see than the Northern Lights.
What Causes The Northern Lights
The Northern Lights are caused by the solar wind, a stream of charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth's magnetic field. Although the magnetic field deflects much of it, some charged particles accelerate along the magnetic field lines toward the polar regions, where they collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms, exciting them and causing them to release energy as light.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.