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Updated Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 10:00 a.m. (local time \u2013 New York)<\/strong><\/p>\n A rare and vivid aurora event<\/strong> could light up the skies over much of the northern United States<\/strong> tonight, as a geomagnetic storm<\/strong> intensifies across the atmosphere. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)<\/strong> has upgraded its space weather forecast<\/strong>, with aurora borealis visibility expected in up to 14 states<\/strong>, including parts of New York, Vermont<\/strong> and Michigan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n A G2-level geomagnetic storm<\/strong> is unfolding, triggered by a wide coronal hole<\/strong> on the sun\u2019s surface<\/strong>, now rotating into a position that sends solar wind<\/strong> directly toward Earth<\/strong>. According to the latest data from the Space Weather Prediction Center<\/strong>, the Kp index<\/strong> \u2014 the standard measure of geomagnetic activity \u2014 is forecast to peak at 5<\/strong>, meaning auroral displays<\/strong> may stretch well into the continental U.S.<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The combination of solar wind intensity<\/strong>, magnetic direction and atmospheric clarity<\/strong> will influence how far south the lights may reach, but clear, dark skies<\/strong> are key.<\/p>\n Current projections from NOAA’s aurora viewlines<\/strong> show that parts of the northern U.S.<\/strong>, especially those along the U.S.-Canada border<\/strong>, may witness aurora borealis<\/strong> shimmering low on the northern horizon. These include areas in Washington<\/strong>, Montana<\/strong>, North Dakota<\/strong>, Minnesota<\/strong>, Wisconsin<\/strong>, Michigan<\/strong>, Iowa<\/strong>, Vermont<\/strong>, New Hampshire<\/strong>, Maine<\/strong>, and northern New York State<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Light pollution<\/strong> will significantly reduce visibility, so remote rural areas stand a better chance of witnessing this phenomenon. Skywatchers in places like the Adirondacks<\/strong>, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan<\/strong>, or rural parts of Vermont<\/strong> should remain alert after sunset.<\/p>\n Exact timing<\/strong> is dependent on real-time data received from NASA’s DSCOVR<\/strong> and ACE satellites<\/strong>, which monitor solar wind speed<\/strong> and magnetic fields<\/strong> about a million miles from Earth<\/strong>. These satellites offer only about 30 minutes of warning<\/strong> before a visible aurora might appear.<\/p>\n For the most accurate updates, use NOAA\u2019s 30-minute aurora forecast tool<\/strong> or trusted apps like Glendale Aurora Forecast<\/strong>. The best viewing window will likely be after 10:00 p.m. local time<\/strong> and into the early hours of Wednesday, June 25<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The aurora borealis<\/strong> occurs when charged solar particles<\/strong> collide with Earth’s upper atmosphere<\/strong>, following magnetic field lines toward the poles. As these particles interact with oxygen and nitrogen atoms<\/strong>, they emit energy in the form of vibrant light<\/strong> \u2014 often glowing green, pink or violet across the night sky.<\/p>\n This week\u2019s aurora event is fueled by heightened solar activity<\/strong>, part of the solar maximum<\/strong> cycle that is expected to continue into 2026<\/strong>. The solar cycle 25<\/strong>, now nearing peak intensity, is delivering the strongest solar winds in over two decades<\/strong>, making 2025<\/strong> a standout year for aurora sightings in mid-latitude regions<\/strong> like New York<\/strong>, Illinois<\/strong>, and even parts of Oregon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Stay tuned for ongoing updates as NOAA continues to monitor this evolving space weather phenomenon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Updated Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 10:00 a.m. (local time \u2013 New York) A rare and vivid aurora event could light up the skies over much of the northern United States tonight, as a geomagnetic storm intensifies across the atmosphere. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has upgraded its space weather forecast, with aurora borealis […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":4714,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4713","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n<\/h3>\n
What to expect from tonight’s Northern Lights<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Where the Northern Lights may be visible tonight<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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When to look for aurora tonight in the U.S.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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What causes the Northern Lights to appear?<\/strong><\/h3>\n