Several northern states are forecast to experience some auroral activity Wednesday night, which could give observers in the right places a shot at seeing the northern lights phenomenon.
Auroral activity is forecast to taper off by Thursday night. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts a Kp index of four for Wednesday night, meaning there will be “more auroral activity” that “can be quite pleasing to look at” for people in the right areas.
Wednesday’s curved viewing line for the northern lights reaches as far south as central South Dakota and southern Minnesota, with chances of seeing the aurora borealis increasing the farther north people are from the line.
Observers hoping to get a glimpse of the northern lights appear to have a better shot Wednesday night, as forecasts call for a significant decrease in auroral activity Thursday night.
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U.S. areas with a low chance of seeing the northern lights include northern Washington, northern Idaho, central and northern Montana, North Dakota, the northern half of South Dakota, central and northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, northern Michigan and northern Maine. As usual on days with heightened auroral activity, much of Alaska and Canada will have higher likelihoods of being able to see the northern lights.
Wednesday's viewing line.
Experts advise people to observe the lights from high vantage points. Areas with little to no light pollution and clear skies are also more favorable for viewing, according to NOAA, which encourages viewers to look for the lights between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Smartphone camera users should use their devices’ night mode. Smartphones or traditional cameras should be set with wide-angle lenses, wide apertures and high ISO values for better shots of the northern lights.
2025 has had a fair number of northern lights showings after a particularly strong year in 2024, when a solar maximum, the strongest phase of solar activity within the sun’s 11-year solar cycle, was reached. Last May, the strongest geomagnetic storm in some 20 years reached Earth. Auroral activity could remain strong this year as well, as NASA has forecast the solar maximum to extend into 2025.
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