Topline
Geomagnetic storm conditions are likely through the weekend, with several states in the northern U.S. likely to have a chance to see the northern lights Friday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Earth’s magnetic field will likely be disrupted over the weekend, forecasters said.
Auroral activity is forecast with a Kp index of four on a scale of nine for Friday night, according to the NOAA, suggesting the northern lights could be increasingly more visible away from the poles and will be “quite pleasing to look at” for those in the right areas.
Geomagnetic storm conditions are expected late Friday and early Saturday, as high-speed winds from a cooler, less dense spot on the sun’s surface continue to disrupt Earth’s magnetic field, NOAA said.
These conditions will likely continue lingering through early Sunday, with a Kp index of nearly five forecast for Saturday and Sunday, according to NOAA’s three-day forecast.
There is a chance for some minor to moderate radio blackouts through Sunday, with a “slight” chance for stronger blackouts, NOAA said, possibly disrupting high-frequency radio communications without broader impacts.
Parts of northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, northern Minnesota, Upper Michigan, northern Wisconsin and northern Maine will have a low likelihood of viewing the northern lights. The highest chance to see the phenomenon is forecast throughout northern Canada and Alaska. (See map below.)
Friday's view line.
The northern lights are best seen between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time while at a high, north-facing vantage point away from light pollution, according to NOAA.
With a regular camera, it’s best to use a tripod to stabilize the image, a wide-angle lens, an aperture or F-stop of four or less and a focus set to the furthest possible setting, photography experts told National Geographic. If using a smartphone, NOAA recommends turning on night mode and disabling flash.
Solar events like solar flares and coronal mass ejections are largely responsible for the northern lights. Electrons from these events collide with molecules of nitrogen and oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing them to become “excited” as they release energy in the form of light. More solar events are expected into early 2026 after activity on the sun’s surface achieved a “solar maximum” in October 2024, NOAA and NASA said. A “solar maximum” marks an increase in solar events and coincides with a “solar minimum,” which indicates a decline in events, at separate points throughout the sun’s 11-year cycle.