How to See the Northern Lights in the USA Tonight
The aurora borealis are doing one of their unusual occurrences tonight in the continental United States (we’re jealous , Alaska, okay?), So if you’re in Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Washington, or the summit of Michigan or Maine, you might have a rare opportunity to see them.
Auroras are unpredictable because they depend on the activity of the sun . If there is a strong enough “solar wind”, it can disrupt the magnetic field around the Earth, disrupting radio communications and creating a beautiful light show in the sky.
A small geomagnetic storm will enable auroral viewing tonight between 4 and 7 pm ET on Friday, November 10, and again from 10 pm to 1 am. A later time is likely to be better as the sky will be darker. And of course, if it’s cloudy, you will miss it. The spots where you can see the northern lights are “in close proximity” to the green line on the NOAA map above. But since the auroras are unpredictable, it’s worth paying attention to, even if you’re a little farther south.
To find out when another aurora might be near you, watch NOAA space weather or another forecast service. Free for iOS and Android , My Aurora Forecast can alert you when the next aurora is approaching. Or simply plan a trip to Alaska, Canada, Iceland, or another aurora-friendly destination of your choice.