A favorable aurora borealis forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts some of the northern-most U.S. states will have a shot at seeing the northern lights this Christmas Eve and Christmas day.
Tuesday's viewing line goes as far south as central South Dakota. (Photo by Yu Ruidong/China News ... [+]
NOAA forecasts a Kp index of four on Tuesday, meaning the northern lights will move further from the poles on Christmas eve and generate more movements and formations.
Auroral activity is forecast to increase on Christmas day, with NOAA forecasting a Kp index of five.
Tuesday’s northern lights viewing line stretches as far south as central South Dakota, with chances of seeing the lights increasing the further north people are from the line.
NOAA has issued no advisories or watches for geomagnetic storms, which tend to increase the visibility of aurora borealis at higher latitudes.
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.
Regions located within the viewing line include northern Washington, northern Idaho, most of Montana, North Dakota, northern South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Michigan and northern Maine, as well as most of Canada and Alaska.
Tuesday's viewing line.
NOAA recommends sky gazers check for aurora borealis between the peak hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. It also encourages viewers to try and observe the lights from areas with little to no light pollution and clear skies.
Viewers with smartphones should utilize night mode when taking photos of the northern lights. If possible, using low shutter speeds and wide apertures can increase chances at snapping a better photo.
2024 has marked a strong year for auroral activity, with forecasters predicting peak activity in 2025 thanks to a “solar maximum” reached on the sun’s surface. The state of heightened solar activity is expected to last well into next year, according to NASA, bringing stronger and more frequent showings of aurora borealis.
NASA, NOAA: Sun Reaches Maximum Phase in 11-Year Solar Cycle (NASA)