When and Where to See the Northern Lights in the US This Weekend
Back in May, the northern lights lit up the sky as far south as Florida , treating much of the country (except New York City) to a rare, colorful, glowing spectacle. If you missed your chance to see the aurora or want to see it again, you may have another chance this weekend.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has issued a watch for geomagnetic storms—those that could result in the northern lights—from Friday, October 4 through Sunday, October 6.
What do geomagnetic storms have to do with the northern lights?
It all started with two strong solar flares (eruptions on the Sun) on October 1 and 3, the latter of which was the most powerful since 2017 . Each solar flare was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection, which is an explosion of plasma and magnetic fields from the solar corona that can cause geomagnetic storms when directed toward Earth. This prompted the SWPC to issue a G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm watch for October 4 to 6.
NOAA uses the G scale to measure the intensity of geomagnetic storms, ranging from G1 for smaller storms to G5 for the most severe storms. The higher the number, the greater the chance of seeing the aurora. Stronger geomagnetic storms also carry the risk of potential disruptions to infrastructure, including power grids, communications, navigation, radio and satellite operations, although the SWPC has indicated that incoming storms should result in only “limited, minor impacts to some processes ” infrastructure,” which “can largely be mitigated.”
How and where to see the northern lights
If SWPC forecasts are correct and this weekend’s geomagnetic storms result in G3 conditions, the Northern Lights could be visible “over many northern states and parts of the lower Midwest into Oregon.” But even if the storm doesn’t turn out to be that strong, or you live south of where the aurora can be seen with the naked eye, you can use your phone to catch a glimpse of the northern lights .
The best time to see the aurora is usually between 10:00 pm and 2:00 am . Although it can be seen in the evening or early morning, “it is usually not as active and therefore not as visually attractive,” notes the SWPC .
As always, for the best chance of seeing some celestial activity, head to the darkest sky near you. But check the weather forecast first: any type of precipitation or cloud cover may block your view of the colorful display. And while you’re at it, keep an eye on the SWPC website and their aurora dashboard for the most up-to-date auroral information.