Washington, D.C. — Skywatchers across the United States may get a rare chance to witness the northern lights this week after forecasters upgraded the aurora alert due to increasing solar activity.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a G2 geomagnetic storm could allow auroras to become visible much farther south than usual overnight from Thursday, May 14, into Friday, May 15.
Northern Lights Could Be Seen Across 20 States
Forecasters say the aurora may become visible across northern parts of the United States and Canada, especially between 10:00 p.m. EDT Thursday and 1:00 a.m. EDT Friday.
Under a weaker G1 geomagnetic storm, the northern lights could appear in:
- Alaska
- Washington
- Idaho
- Montana
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
- Maine
However, if conditions strengthen into a G2-class storm, the display could stretch farther south into:
- Oregon
- Wyoming
- Nebraska
- Iowa
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Ohio
- New York
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
Experts say viewers in these states may have the best chance of spotting the aurora low on the northern horizon.
Coronal Hole Driving Increased Aurora Activity
The growing aurora chances are being linked to a large coronal hole on the sun.
Coronal holes are dark regions that appear in ultraviolet and X-ray images of the sun and allow charged solar particles, known as the solar wind, to escape more easily into space.
When these charged particles interact with Earth’s magnetic field, they can trigger geomagnetic storms and create the colorful aurora displays seen near the poles.
The green and red lights occur as particles accelerate along Earth’s magnetic field lines and collide with gases in the atmosphere.
Solar Activity Has Started Intensifying Again
After several relatively quiet weeks, scientists say solar activity has recently increased.
On May 7, an M2-class solar flare signaled the arrival of a more active sunspot region. Since then, multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) — giant clouds of charged particles released from the sun — have been observed.
If Earth-directed, these CMEs can significantly strengthen geomagnetic storms and increase aurora visibility.
Scientists continue monitoring whether additional solar eruptions could intensify conditions over the coming days.
Why This Week’s Viewing Conditions Are Favorable
Astronomy experts say sky conditions are particularly favorable for aurora viewing this week because a new moon arrives on Saturday, May 16.
With darker skies and less moonlight interference, even faint northern lights may become easier to spot in areas with low light pollution.
Clear weather conditions will also play a major role in visibility, meaning cloud cover could impact viewing opportunities in some regions.
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NOAA Monitoring Geomagnetic Storm Risks
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center continues to monitor solar wind conditions and geomagnetic activity closely.
“Geomagnetic field activity is expected to reach G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm levels on 15-17 May,” the agency’s latest forecast stated.
The agency also noted that active solar conditions are expected later this month as additional sunspot regions rotate into Earth’s view.
Experts explain that predicting aurora visibility remains difficult because scientists often have only about 30 minutes of warning once solar wind conditions are measured near Earth by NOAA’s DSCOVR satellite.
Aurora enthusiasts are being encouraged to monitor real-time forecasts and alerts for the latest updates.
Will you be trying to spot the northern lights this week? Share your plans and skywatching photos in the comments below.
