The aurora borealis may be visible again to several states along the Canadian border on Thursday, and it may be the last opportunity this week to catch the phenomenon, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The aurora borealis has become more visible to more states in recent months, after activity on the ... More
Auroral activity is forecast with a Kp index of three on a scale of nine for Thursday night, suggesting the northern lights will move farther south and be “quite pleasing to look at” for those in the right areas.
No geomagnetic storms or “significant” solar winds are forecast through Saturday, NOAA’s three-day forecast suggests, indicating auroral activity will likely be calmer into the weekend with a maximum Kp index of nearly three and just over two forecast for Friday and Saturday, respectively.
There is a chance for minor to moderate radio blackouts through Saturday, however, the NOAA said, meaning some high-frequency radio communications may be disrupted.
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The aurora borealis will most likely be visible throughout Canada and Alaska, though a view line marking a minimal opportunity sweeps through southern Minnesota. Parts of northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, northern Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Upper Michigan and northern Wisconsin have a low likelihood of seeing the northern lights. (See map below.)
Thursday's view line.
NOAA recommends traveling to a north-facing, high vantage point away from light pollution to see the northern lights, which are most visible between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time.
A camera using a wide-angle lens, aperture or F-stop of four or less and a focus set to the furthest possible setting is recommended for capturing the aurora borealis, photography experts told National Geographic. If using a smartphone, NOAA suggests turning on night mode and disabling flash.
Aurora borealis is the product of electrons from solar events like solar flares or geomagnetic storms interacting with oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth’s atmosphere. This intersection causes these electrons to become “excited” before releasing the colorful displays of the northern lights. A peak in solar events was achieved in October 2024, scientists from NOAA and NASA said, suggesting the northern lights will be visible to more states through early 2026. Activity on the sun’s surface is measured over 11-year periods, during which a “solar maximum” and a “solar minimum” are achieved. The latest “solar maximum” followed what NOAA called the strongest geomagnetic storm to reach Earth in nearly two decades, an event that pulled the northern lights as far south as northern Florida and Texas.