Space

Aurora Alert! Nearly Two Dozen States Could See Northern Lights

A strong geomagnetic storm could push the northern lights much farther south than usual, putting on a celestial show for parts of Canada and North America.

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You could be in store for an epic display of the northern lights Monday night, as a strong geomagnetic storm could push auroras into the skies over the northern U.S.

In a special alert issued on Sunday, a forecast from NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center predicted a strong G3 geomagnetic storm through midday Tuesday, December 9.

While space weather is hard to predict, auroras could be visible from late Monday night into the wee hours of Tuesday morning and possibly again on Tuesday night.

According to NOAA, here’s where they may be visible: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

People in the lower Midwest to Oregon may also have a chance to see the phenomenon.

When it comes to whether the skies will be clear enough to see the lights, Weather.com meteorologist Caitlin Kaiser says, “On Monday, parts of the Great Lakes, Midwest and Northeast will have the best chance at seeing the northern lights while the rest of the Northern Tier contends with thick cloud cover.”

Caitlin adds that on Tuesday, those in parts of the Northern Plains, like Montana and the Dakotas should have a better shot, “If you do head out either night, make sure to bundle up! Most of the area will see temperatures dropping well below freezing.”

The geomagnetic storm follows what NOAA calls a “full-halo” coronal mass ejection, or eruption of plasma from the sun, generated by a strong solar flare on December 6.

(MORE: See A Solar Flare Up Close)

The best way to see the northern nights is to get away from city lights, give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness and face the northern horizon.

For tips and tricks on the best ways to photograph auroras and other celestial events, check out this video guide.

If you’re lucky enough to see the lights tonight, share your pictures with us in the comments section or email them to us at [email protected] and we may include them in our daily newsletter.