🌌 Rare Northern Lights Alert: Auroras Visible Across 11 U.S. States Tonight

🌟 What’s Lighting Up the Sky?

Skywatchers, get ready! A stunning display of the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) is expected to be visible tonight across 11 U.S. states, thanks to an unusually strong geomagnetic storm from the sun. This rare event is thrilling both scientists and nature lovers alike.

If skies are clear, you could see the aurora as far south as Colorado, Missouri, and even Virginia—states where this phenomenon is almost never visible.

🌍 Where Can You See the Northern Lights in the U.S.?

According to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, these states have the highest chance of viewing the auroras:

Montana
North Dakota
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Michigan
Iowa
South Dakota
New York (northern parts)
Vermont
New Hampshire
Maine

✨ Some parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois may also get a faint glow depending on atmospheric conditions.

🔬 Why Are Auroras Happening Now?

The spectacle is caused by a coronal mass ejection (CME)—a burst of solar plasma and magnetic fields from the sun—that collided with Earth’s magnetic field. This triggers geomagnetic storms, which then excite atmospheric particles, creating shimmering ribbons of green, red, and purple light.

The strength of this particular CME means the lights will be visible much farther south than usual.

Find a dark, open area, far from city lights
Look north, even if you're not in a top visibility state
Bring a tripod and camera with long exposure for best photos
Check local cloud cover before heading out

🛰️ Bonus tip: Use apps like My Aurora Forecast or Aurora Alerts to track real-time geomagnetic activity.

📷 Social Media Is Already Buzzing

Thousands of Americans are taking to X (Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok to share breathtaking images and videos of the lights. The hashtag #NorthernLightsUSA is trending nationwide.

🧠 Quick Science Facts

Auroras are more common near the poles due to Earth’s magnetic field.
Solar activity follows an 11-year cycle—2025 is near the solar maximum, meaning more auroras!
NASA monitors solar weather to predict such events and their impacts on satellites and power grids.