States close to the Canadian border will have a chance at seeing the northern lights Wednesday nights, as space weather conditions likely die down leading into the weekend, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast.
Northern lights seen in Wisconsin.
NOAA forecast a Kp index of 3 for Wednesday night, indicating the aurora will be brighter with more “auroral activity” that will be “quite pleasing to look at” for people in the right viewing area.
Earlier this week, NOAA forecast a minor geomagnetic storm—resulting from a burst of energy and particles released by the sun—for Wednesday that would likely push the northern lights farther south, though the agency now expects calmer space weather through Friday night.
More severe geomagnetic storms have the potential to impact critical infrastructure, including GPS and electric power transmission, and are caused by solar coronal mass ejections, an eruption of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s surface.
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Several northern U.S. states are expected to have a chance at seeing the aurora, while Alaska and Canada have a higher likelihood. NOAA forecast a view line—where viewers have a minimal opportunity to see the phenomenon—that sweeps just below the Canadian border, meaning areas in Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan have a low chance of seeing the aurora.
Wednesday night's view line.
NOAA recommends looking for the aurora between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. while at a higher vantage point away from light pollution.
Using night mode on your smartphone while using lower shutter speeds will help take photos of the aurora, even if the northern lights aren’t visible to the naked eye, according to Visit Iceland, Iceland’s tourism website.
The latest 11-year cycle for the sun—Solar Cycle 25—has released a series of solar flares in recent weeks, increasing the likelihood of geomagnetic storms and aurora borealis sightings. Last week, the sun emitted an X1.4 flare—classified as the most intense—that caused NOAA to warn of a severe geomagnetic storm. That event pushed the aurora borealis as far south as Texas, and NASA believes the solar cycle is nearing its peak. NASA previously forecast more geomagnetic storms leading up to 2026, as the sun’s activity has been busier than expected.