The Northern Lights Could Be Visible in Up to 18 U.S. States Tonight
Visitors and residents of northern Alaska and Canada are often treated with the beauty of aurora borealis, known more commonly as the Northern lights. And while those in Arctic regions might be used to seeing the natural phenomenon in the night sky, those living in the lower 48 states usually only see them through pictures. But that might change the night of Jan. 22.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center, tonight's forecast includes the possibility of seeing the lights in 17 states in addition to Alaska. These include states in the Northeast like Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York; Midwest states including Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota; and Western states like Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.
It's not a complete guarantee that you'll see the lights, however. A variety of factors both on Earth and in space can affect their visibility, from clouds in the sky to the sun's activity and solar winds. NOAA's predictions are the most accurate between 15 and 45 minutes before the aurora can be seen, so be sure to check the 30-minute aurora forecast between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. ET. And if you can't see anything with the naked eye, try using your phone camera, as they've been known to pick up the breathtaking light show better than our own eyes.
Scientists have predicted that 2024 will be the year of the Northern lights. So why bother going to Iceland or Scandinavia to catch the lights when you can see them right here at home?
