Northern Lights Forecast: These 10 States Might See The Aurora Borealis Tonight

Topline

Ten states in the northern U.S. have a shot at seeing the northern lights Sunday night into Monday morning, according to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which also predicted periods of minor geomagnetic storms.

The northern lights appear over Anchorage, Alaska, on Jan. 1, 2025.

Key Facts

Sunday night’s forecast for the aurora borealis has a Kp index of four on a scale of nine, which means the aurora will be brighter and “can be quite pleasing to look at” if a person is in the right location to view it.

NOAA’s three-day forecast also states there may be periods of minor geomagnetic storms Sunday night.

The northern lights become visible due to geomagnetic activity that causes ions to collide with Earth’s atmospheric gases, creating visible color displays.

Sunday’s forecast follows a Kp index forecast of three on Saturday in which the projected viewline for the northern lights stretched as low as the border between North Dakota and South Dakota.

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Where Will The Northern Lights Be Visible Sunday Night?

NOAA’s forecast shows the northern lights may be visible in Alaska, North Dakota, most of Montana, Minnesota and Wisconsin, and parts of Washington, Idaho, South Dakota, Michigan and Maine. (See viewline map below.)

Northern lights viewline for May 4.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

What’s The Best Way To See The Northern Lights?

To best view the northern lights, NOAA recommends getting to an area with an unobstructed, north-facing view away from bright city lights. The aurora is typically most visible between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, which is when geomagnetic activity tends to be highest.

How Can You Photograph The Northern Lights?

If you’re using a smartphone camera, turn on night mode and reduce your shutter speed to capture the movement of the lights. If you’re photographing the lights on a traditional camera, use a wide-angle lens and tripod.

Key Background

The sun is in its “solar maximum,” which is the peak of its 11-year cycle for activity, like solar flares and coronal mass ejections. The peak has led to increased shows of the aurora borealis in recent months, and experts say the solar maximum and frequent northern lights viewings are expected to continue into early 2026. Solar activity increased leading up to the solar maximum, as well, with one of the strongest geomagnetic storms hitting Earth occurring last May, according to NASA, and bringing one of the best northern lights displays in the past 500 years. As recently as March, the Kp index hit six and nearly half of the United States was in the viewline for the aurora.