Northern Lights Could Be Visible From Nine States Tonight

Aug 20, 2026 11:14 PM - 1 day ago 3

Topline

The bluish lights could beryllium visible from immoderate bluish U.S. states, according to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, though experts are not predicting immoderate abstraction upwind that typically make the lights look brighter and visible further from the northbound pole.

The aurora could beryllium visible from immoderate bluish states connected Thursday night.

Key Facts

NOAA is predicting a Kp scale of 4 retired of 9 connected Thursday, meaning the bluish lights could look brighter and visible pinch much “motion and formations.”

However, NOAA’s three-day forecast is not predicting immoderate abstraction upwind events, which usually make the aurora look visible from states further south.

Where Could The Northern Lights Be Visible?

The aurora has a “low” likelihood of visibility from states on the U.S.-Canadian border, according to NOAA’s forecast map. These see parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Most of mainland Alaska besides falls wrong the “high” likelihood region. However, the Sun sets very precocious successful Alaska during the summertime months, meaning it apt won’t get acheronian capable for viewers to drawback a glimpse of the aurora.

NOAA's forecast representation for Thursday.

NOAA

What’s the Best Way to View the Northern Lights?

Experts astatine NOAA urge viewers recreation arsenic acold northbound arsenic possible, towards Earth’s magnetic northbound rod located successful bluish Canada. Viewers should past position themselves connected a vantage constituent pinch a clear position of the sky, ideally distant from metropolis lights aliases different sources of ray pollution. NOAA besides recommends viewers statement up their trips to coincide pinch the hours the aurora is astir active—typically betwixt 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.

What’s the Best Way to Photograph the Northern Lights?

An master who said to National Geographic said that smartphones typically person cameras that tin return value photos of the aurora, provided they usage the correct settings and equipment. All photographers should bring a tripod and a distant timer successful bid to support their devices still for a agelong capable play of clip to seizure the lights successful the nighttime darkness. They should besides retrieve to move their devices to nighttime mode and move disconnected flash. If available, they should besides purpose to usage RAW image format.