Auroral activity is expected to be just strong enough to be seen across parts of the northern U.S. on Friday before weakening through the weekend, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast.
The northern lights may be visible across Canada, Alaska and parts of Minnesota.
NOAA forecast a Kp index of 2 on a scale of nine for Friday night, meaning the northern lights be farther north and “quite dim in intensity.”
Weaker auroral activity is forecast for Saturday as space weather conditions have calmed down, though the northern lights may become more visible on Sunday, according to NOAA.
There will likely be more chances to see aurora borealis in the coming months, according to NASA, as the sun experiences more solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which increases aurora visibility while impacting infrastructure like radio and GPS.
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.
There’s a higher chance of viewing the northern lights across northern Canada and Alaska, with a view line—indicating a minimal opportunity of seeing the phenomenon—that sweeps just below the Canadian border. An area in northern Minnesota will have a lower likelihood of seeing the phenomenon. (See viewing line below.)
Friday night's view line.
NOAA recommends traveling away from light pollution to a high vantage point to see the northern lights, which are best seen between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time.
If using a regular camera, Adobe suggests setting the focus to the farthest possible setting with a wide aperture, low shutter speed and high ISO value. Visit Iceland, Iceland’s tourism website, recommends turning on night mode and a lower shutter speed if using a smartphone.
Activity on the sun’s surface has likely reached a “solar maximum,” resulting in more sunspots and coronal mass ejections, according to NOAA and NASA. Elsayed Talaat, NOAA’s director of space weather observations, said the sun’s 11-year cycle—Solar Cycle 25—has reached a point of “high-impact” space weather, causing more geomagnetic storms across Earth and aurora borealis to be pulled farther south. A “severe” geomagnetic storm pushed the phenomenon as far south as Texas earlier this month, and NOAA believes increased auroral activity will continue into 2025 and early 2026.