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Aurora borealis may be visible Thursday night into Friday morning across parts of the northern U.S.<\/strong><\/p>\n NEW YORK \u2013 Thursday, June 19, 2025, 8:00 PM (ET)<\/strong> \u2013 According to the latest forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)<\/strong>, some minor geomagnetic storms<\/strong> are expected to disturb the Earth\u2019s magnetic field<\/strong> overnight, potentially making the northern lights visible<\/strong> across several northern states<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kp index of 5: increased auroral activity expected<\/strong><\/p>\n The Kp index<\/strong> is forecast to reach 5 on a scale of 9<\/strong>, indicating moderate geomagnetic activity<\/strong> that could allow the aurora borealis<\/strong> to be seen further south than usual<\/strong>. Activity is expected to peak overnight Thursday into early Friday morning<\/strong>, with some continued but weaker chances<\/strong> into the following night.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Where the northern lights may be visible<\/strong><\/p>\n Based on NOAA\u2019s auroral maps, the \u201cview line\u201d<\/strong> \u2014 the southern edge of potential visibility \u2014 extends into northern Iowa<\/strong>, Montana<\/strong>, North Dakota<\/strong>, northern Minnesota<\/strong>, northern Wisconsin<\/strong>, and Michigan\u2019s Upper Peninsula<\/strong>. There\u2019s a lesser but possible chance<\/strong> in parts of northern Washington<\/strong>, northern Idaho<\/strong>, northern New York<\/strong>, Vermont<\/strong>, New Hampshire<\/strong>, and Maine<\/strong>. While Alaska<\/strong> has a high probability<\/strong>, lingering daylight<\/strong> may prevent visibility.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Best viewing window: between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time<\/strong><\/p>\n NOAA notes that the best chance to see the northern lights<\/strong> is typically between 10:00 PM and 2:00 AM local time<\/strong>. Even with lower geomagnetic activity (Kp 3 or 4)<\/strong>, the aurora may be visible if skies are clear, and the viewer is far from artificial light<\/strong> and has a north-facing view from an elevated spot<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Solar activity peak in 2024 driving continued auroras in 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n The current surge in northern lights sightings<\/strong> follows a solar maximum reached in October 2024<\/strong>, marked by intense solar flares and coronal mass ejections<\/strong>. These events release charged particles<\/strong> that collide with oxygen and nitrogen<\/strong> in the atmosphere, producing the aurora\u2019s glowing displays<\/strong>. While the aurora can appear year-round, it\u2019s most visible between late September and March<\/strong>, when nighttime hours are longest<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Quieter conditions expected in coming nights<\/strong><\/p>\n NOAA\u2019s three-day outlook shows auroral activity will likely decline by Friday night<\/strong>, with a maximum Kp index just above 3<\/strong>, and down to 2 by Saturday<\/strong>, which suggests lower chances for further displays<\/strong> this weekend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Aurora borealis may be visible Thursday night into Friday morning across parts of the northern U.S. NEW YORK \u2013 Thursday, June 19, 2025, 8:00 PM (ET) \u2013 According to the latest forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), some minor geomagnetic storms are expected to disturb the Earth\u2019s magnetic field overnight, potentially making […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":4528,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4527","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n