Several northern U.S. states could see the northern lights Thursday as geomagnetic storm conditions are expected to continue affecting Earth’s magnetic field, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Forecasters warned of geomagnetic storm conditions earlier this week.
NOAA forecast a Kp index of four on a scale of nine for Thursday, suggesting there will be an increase in auroral activity that can be “quite pleasing to look at” for observers in the right areas.
Thursday night’s auroral activity is the result of lasting geomagnetic storm conditions from earlier this week, which were caused by a coronal high-speed stream, or winds from a cooler, less dense area on the sun’s surface interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field, according to NOAA’s three-day forecast.
The northern lights will likely be as visible on Friday with an expected Kp index of four, before auroral activity calms on Saturday with a Kp index of three, according to NOAA.
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A view line—marking a minimal chance to see the northern lights—sweeps as low as southern Minnesota, though Alaska and northern Canada have the highest likelihood of viewing the phenomenon. Parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota and Upper Michigan have a lower chance, while areas in South Dakota, Wisconsin and Maine have an even lower likelihood. (See map below.)
Thursday's view line.
The northern lights 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.
If using a regular camera, photography experts told National Geographic to use wide-angle lenses, an aperture or F-stop of four or less and a focus set to the farthest possible setting. If using a smartphone, NOAA recommends turning on night mode and disabling flash.
The northern lights are produced by electrons from solar events—solar flares and coronal mass ejections—intersecting with molecules and atoms of nitrogen and oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere. This interaction causes the electrons to become “excited” before releasing the colorful displays of the aurora borealis. Solar events occur more frequently during peaks in activity on the sun’s surface, or a “solar maximum,” which NASA said was achieved in October 2024. This peak will likely persist into early 2026. Last year, NASA said the strongest geomagnetic storm in the last two decades affected Earth, pulling the northern lights as far south as Texas and northern Florida.