Northern Lights Could Be Visible Tonight in U.S

A geomagnetic storm, sparked by the sun’s solar cycle peak, is expected to make the aurora borealis visible in parts of the northern United States and Canada tonight. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued an alert for a “strong” solar radiation storm, a rare event that occurs approximately 10 times during the sun’s 11-year solar cycle. The storm, combined with moderate solar activity, offers a chance to see the Northern Lights in areas along the Canadian border and in states like Montana, Washington, Idaho, Minnesota, Michigan, and the Dakotas. The lights may even be visible in northern parts of Maine and New York, although their appearances are notoriously unpredictable.

The best time to view the Northern Lights is usually within an hour or two of midnight, between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., away from city lights for optimal visibility. Last month, the Northern Lights dazzled viewers across all 50 states after a historic geomagnetic storm made them visible nationwide. This storm, caused by an eruption of plasma from the sun’s atmosphere, was classified as “severe” by NOAA, with warnings of potential satellite damage, widespread voltage problems, and communication disruptions. However, no significant issues were reported. This event marked the first watch alert for a geomagnetic storm of such magnitude since January 2005. NASA predicts that such geomagnetic storms will continue into next year as Solar Cycle 25 progresses towards its anticipated peak in July 2025.

In a surprising turn, last month saw the highest number of Google searches for “northern lights” in history, with searches in May eight times higher than in any other month on record.