The northern lights may be visible in several continental states in the US tonight, despite no significant predictions for geomagnetic storms. According to NOAA’s forecast, a Kp index of two on a scale of nine suggests that the northern lights will be more visible farther from the poles.
Friday is expected to offer the best chance to see the lights over the next three days, with the likelihood of geomagnetic activity and storms dropping daily through Sunday. Viewers in Canada and Alaska will have the best opportunity to witness the display, with the predicted “view line” extending into Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and upper Michigan.
To increase chances of viewing the northern lights, residents should observe from a high vantage point away from light pollution, facing north between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. The display will be most visible at around 3 a.m. on Saturday.
For photographers, using a tripod and night mode on smartphones is recommended. With separate cameras, experts suggest using a wide-angle lens, an aperture of F-stop four or less, and the furthest possible focus setting to capture the best images.
The northern lights appear as a colorful phenomenon in the night sky when electrically charged particles from the sun collide with Earth’s atmosphere. The display is most visible near the Arctic Circle but can stretch far beyond its usual range during times of high solar activity.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2025/08/01/northern-lights-forecast-these-7-states-might-view-aurora-borealis-tonight