Folks ringing in the new year in several states along the U.S.’s northern border might spot the aurora borealis amidst the fireworks and celebrations, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasting a heightened visibility on New Year’s Eve.
KIRUNA, SWEDEN - MARCH 7: The Aurora Borealis, commonly known as the Northern Lights, are seen in ... [+]
NOAA predicted a Kp index of 5 on its scale that reaches 9, meaning the lights are strong enough to reach beyond the Canadian border into states where they aren’t typically visible.
The lights might be visible in more than seven states along the Canadian border and can usually be seen between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.—in this case, just as the calendar turns to the new year.
The lights are expected to continue into Wednesday night, although the forecast drops several points into a Kp of 2.
NOAA’s three-day forecast of space conditions shows strong space activity with a geomagnetic storm reaching G3 conditions, two steps from the most extreme conditions of a G5, alongside the release of three solar flares from the sun, all of which heighten the visibility of Tuesday’s skyline.
The lights will be especially bright in Alaska and across Canada, where the lights can typically be seen and where NOAA predicts the strongest likelihood of visibility. The following states may also glimpse Tuesday night’s lights: Idaho, Washington, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin — but the lights may reach down into Iowa, Wyoming, Nebraska, Illinois, Michigan, Oregon, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
Tuesday's aurora borealis forecast.
Cities located closer to the border—the more northern cities, the better—will have better odds of seeing them. Those looking to see the lights should look up around or after midnight and potentially seek a tall building for elevated viewing. It’s also helpful to avoid busy areas, as light pollution from cities—and potentially fireworks—could blot out the aurora’s visibility, according to NOAA.
Many smartphones have the ability to photograph the light displays and can even pick up the lights when humans see nothing, NASA says. Photographers should enable night mode, which allows the camera to capture images in dark conditions. On cameras with changeable lenses, it’s helpful to use a lens that captures a wider angle or, when using a professional camera, to manually adjust the exposure and focus, National Geographic writes.
A rare occurrence called the black moon surfaced Monday night. Although there are several definitions, a black moon is generally understood to happen when there are two new moons in one month. A new moon is when the moon is briefly invisible before starting the lunar phase again, according to NASA. The black moon is rare because it occurs about every two years or more, the Farmer’s Almanac says.
The past year displayed some of the most active northern lights in five centuries. Geomagnetic storms that affect the lights were more active in 2024 than in the prior two decades, according to NASA. At some points throughout the year, the lights were visible in U.S. states such as California, Florida and Texas, where it’s highly unusual to see the aurora. The activity continued even through the end of the year, with the 2024 holiday season spotting the lights on Christmas, Hanukkah and Thanksgiving. Experts at NASA predict the heightened visibility will continue in the next two years.