How to Watch the Last-Minute Northern Lights Tonight from These Select States

Step outside and look up!

Another round of northern lights will be viewable from several locations across the United States, likely to produce a magical display of colors swirling through the night sky on Tuesday, March 25.

The northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, result from geomagnetic storms. These take place when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, impacting the colors visible depending on the storm’s intensity and location.

The planetary K index or Kp indicates geomagnetic activity, which ranges from 0 to 9. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Space Weather Prediction Center, tonight’s aurora forecast is a 4 on the scale.

“These aurora can be quite pleasing to look at,” reports NOAA of a northern lights display that falls between the 3 to 5 range on the scale. Of course, though, the degree of colors and visibility depends on sky conditions and the location from which they are viewed.

Northern lights have been spotted over parts of the United States in recent weeks and months, producing spectacular colors that are not often visible from this part of the world. Most recently, the week of March 17 had star lovers pointing their eyes to the sky.

In fact, March is said to be the best month of the year to catch a glimpse of the northern lights. This is due to heightened solar activity, in addition to the spring equinox positioning the Earth’s axis perpendicular to the solar winds, which can trigger more auroras.

Read on for where and when to watch the northern lights tonight!

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When will the northern lights be visible?

The northern lights are expected to be visible the night of Tuesday, March 25, through early morning Wednesday, March 26. Best times for viewing are between 10:00 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, according to NOAA.

There’s a slight chance the auroras will radiate on Wednesday, March 26; however, the forecast is only a 3 on the Kp index. The decrease on the scale lessens the chances for visibility.

Where will the northern lights be visible?

The northern lights will be visible from select parts of the United States, in addition to northern Canada. Locations with predicted visibility tonight include states that sweep below the Canadian border.

Among the states are the northern parts of the following states: Washington, Montana, Idaho, North Dakota, Michigan and Minnesota. South Dakota, Maine and Wisconsin have a decreased chance of visibility, though there’s still potential!

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How to watch the northern lights?

The best part about watching the northern lights? No high-tech, expensive equipment is needed to catch a glimpse of the spectacular spectacle that colors that night sky.

The naked eye can pick up the colors alone, though it’s important that you’re positioned in a location on Earth far away from light pollution. This includes street lamps, city lights and other areas that could drown out the display.

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How to take photos of the northern lights?

Various smartphones have a high-tech capability to capture photos of the auroras on camera so you can remember the northern light experience forever. Simply toggle camera settings in your phone to “Night Mode,” aim your lens at the sky and snap away!

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