Northern Lights Will Be Visible From 17 U.S. States This Week

Stargazers will get a special treat this week, as the Northern Lights (or aurora borealis) will be visible across 17 of the United States. On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, the K-P, or planetary index, will hit a five and six, respectively. The index goes all the way up to nine, and any occurrence above five falls under the category of a geomagnetic storm.

According to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the Northern Lights will be seen in some parts of Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Vermont.

The natural phenomenon is usually most visible in Scandinavia and Northern Canada.

Wednesday will see the geo-storm “low on the horizon from Seattle, Des Moines, Chicago, Cleveland, Boston, and Halifax [Nova Scotia].”

Thursday will see a much stronger version of the storm, with action occurring in Minneapolis, MN; Milwaukee, WI; Bay City, MI; Salem, MA; Boise, ID; Cheyenne, WY; Lincoln, NE; Indianapolis, IN; and Annapolis, MD.

Helena, MT, in addition to Montpelier, VT, Minneapolis and Milwaukee can anticipate seeing “highly active auroral displays” on Thursday.

The aurora borealis occurs when solar storms erupt from the sun, spitting clouds of energized particles into space that will sometimes find themselves colliding with Earth’s magnetic field. When charged particles collide with atoms and molecules in Earth’s upper atmosphere, it spawns the mesmerizing neon lights.

In May, The New York Times reported that the Northern Lights have been visible in more states than usual due to a shift in the sun’s magnetic fields, which oscillate on an 11-year cycle. The increased visibility will continue until 2025, when an event called solar maximum will cap off the natural wonder.

Fairbanks University is likewise forecasting “moderate” auroral activity for Friday, with parts of northern Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan anticipated to be in the sight lines.

The Space Weather Prediction Center advises that between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. is the best window to view the aurora borealis. If possible, it’s best to view the lights from a higher elevation in an area with little to no light pollution.

It’s also important to remember that while they are indeed called the Northern Lights, they come from all directions in the sky. So make sure to look east, west and south as well.