Night sky with northern lights and a United States flag in the bottom right corner. — Several States in America Will Be Able to See the Northern Lights | Getty Images, surangaw, sk de sansak@design

Camara — Several States in America Will Be Able to See the Northern Lights | Getty Images, surangaw, sk de sansak@design

Shock With Northern Lights Forecast in the US: 9 States Where You Can See It Tonight

This sky spectacle can be observed in America, and experts highlight the best places to enjoy it

09/04/2025 13:36:00h

Aida Cristòfol

The night sky over North America is preparing for an extraordinary natural spectacle. According to NOAA's forecast, tonight could be one of the best of the year to see auroras borealis in the United States. This is all thanks to moderate geomagnetic activity, with a predicted Kp index of four on a scale from zero to nine.

The forecast map shows an oval ring of green and red indicating the expected intensity and extent of the auroras. The green color represents low to moderate activity, while the red indicates areas where the aurora will be more intense and visible to the naked eye. Additionally, a line of sight is included, marking the southernmost limit from which the auroras could be observed.

According to the OVATION model, conditions will be ideal tonight between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM (Central US Time). This is the period during which the maximum geomagnetic activity is expected. The visualization could extend up to 621 miles (1,000 kilometers) from the center of the activity, as long as the sky is clear.

Two people standing on a road looking at a night sky with a red glow and dark clouds.

The Northern Lights will be visible from different locations | Twitter, @lionelpla

The Best Spots in the United States to See the Auroras Borealis

The states with the highest chances of seeing auroras tonight include several points spread across the map. The most notable are:

North Dakota
South Dakota
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Montana
Idaho
Michigan (especially the Upper Peninsula)
Washington
Maine

This natural phenomenon, also known as the northern lights, can also be observed in Alaska, where they are more than accustomed to it. Since they can't be seen during the day, one must take advantage of the nighttime hours, just after sunset or before dawn. For those who wish to follow the evolution in real-time, NOAA offers a 30-minute forecast.

As well as a new experimental control panel called Aurora Dashboard, which compiles all relevant information in one place. Tonight, looking at the sky could mean coming face to face with one of nature's most amazing spectacles. So if you're in the United States, it's worth keeping an eye on the sky.

An image split into two halves showing green-toned northern lights on the left and purple ones on the right with silhouettes of people watching the phenomenon.

The Northern Lights are a unique spectacle in the sky | Getty Images Pro, basiczto, erandalx, Getty Images

What Are the Northern Lights?

The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, is a spectacular natural phenomenon that occurs in the polar regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Its equivalent in the Southern Hemisphere is called the aurora australis. They occur when charged particles from the solar wind collide with gases in the atmosphere like oxygen and nitrogen.

It's an impressive phenomenon that seems straight out of a science fiction movie, but completely real. Likewise, it's not always an easy task to see them. So if you have the opportunity, take advantage and enjoy the magic.

➡️ Consumer Affairs