The auroras are back! The northern lights will grace the skies this weekend in several U.S. states if the weather is clear. Residents in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine can expect to see them.
The solar storm causing these auroras is expected to peak on Friday evening in parts of Wyoming, northern Iowa, northern New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire. By Saturday morning, the auroras should be at their most intense and visible. Over Sunday and into Monday, they should begin to fade as the solar activity subsides.
Auroras form when charged particles from the sun collide with Earth’s magnetic field, exciting gas molecules in the upper atmosphere and emitting light. The display can stretch across the U.S. and Europe during extreme events, like the 1958 event that was visible from Mexico City.
This weekend is a great time to catch the auroras if you’re in one of the best viewing states. Don’t worry if you miss them—future solar activity could bring more intense displays!
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2025/01/24/aurora-borealis-forecast-northern-lights-state-map/77929661007