The northern lights might be visible in parts of the northern U.S. overnight on Friday, Nov. 6, and Saturday, Nov. 7, as a strong stream of solar wind interacts with Earth’s magnetic field.
Space weather forecasters predict a G1 or G2-class geomagnetic storm, which could make the aurora visible from northern U.S. states near the Canadian border. If that happens and conditions are right, you can even photograph the northern lights with your phone.
The forecast comes shortly before the moon reaches its new phase, so it will be visible only as a slim crescent in the pre-dawn sky—leaving skies as dark as possible for spotting any faint aurora.
Will You See the Northern Lights Tonight?
According to a forecast by space weather experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a G1-class geomagnetic storm could begin around 5:00 p.m. EST on Friday, Nov. 6, with Kp 5 conditions forecast, and last into Saturday, Nov. 7 and into Sunday, Nov. 8.
“The geomagnetic field is likely to reach G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm levels, with a chance for G2 (Moderate) levels, on 06-08 Nov due to negative polarity CH HSS influences,” states NOAA, referring to a coronal hole high-speed stream. This stream is a rush of charged particles escaping from a dark region of the sun’s atmosphere, sometimes moving faster than a million miles per hour. When this solar wind reaches Earth, it can disturb the magnetic field, trigger geomagnetic storms, and possibly bring the northern lights farther south than usual.
Where Will the Aurora Be Visible?
If a G1 geomagnetic storm happens, the aurora could be visible from dark spots in northern U.S. states near the Canadian border. You might see it in Alaska and parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, as long as the skies are clear.
Should geomagnetic activity briefly strengthen to G2 levels, the auroral oval could expand farther south, potentially allowing photographers in states such as Oregon, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Colorado, Pennsylvania and New York to capture faint displays. However, visibility is never guaranteed.
The aurora-chasing website Cosmik gives live odds for all states and 552 cities in 10 languages, using NOAA’s data. You can check there to see if your area might see the aurora tonight.
How Can You Maximize Your Chances of Seeing the Aurora?
If you want to see the aurora, go somewhere dark with a clear view of the northern horizon. Whether you see the aurora depends on solar wind strength, cloud cover, light pollution, and the direction of the interplanetary magnetic field. This direction, called Bz, is important. When Bz points south, it connects better with Earth’s magnetic field, letting energy and charged particles enter the magnetosphere. If Bz stays south for a while, the aurora can get brighter and move farther south. If Bz points north, the display may be weak or only visible at higher latitudes.
Try apps like Aurora Now, My Aurora Forecast, or Glendale Aurora for real-time alerts and live solar wind data.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.