A favorable aurora borealis forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts some of the northern-most U.S. states will witness the northern lights on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Kp index, a measure of auroral activity, is expected to reach four on Tuesday, indicating more movements and formations.
On Christmas Eve, the northern lights viewing line extends as far south as central South Dakota, with chances of seeing the lights increasing at higher latitudes. On Christmas Day, the forecast predicts an increase in auroral activity, with a Kp index of five and a wider viewing area, including northern New England, northern New York, and northern Iowa.
NOAA has issued no advisories or watches for geomagnetic storms, which can enhance visibility at higher latitudes. The aurora borealis will be visible in regions such as northern Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Michigan, and northern Maine, as well as most of Canada and Alaska.
To witness the northern lights, sky gazers should observe between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., avoiding areas with light pollution and clear skies. Photographers can use night mode on their smartphones, along with low shutter speeds and wide apertures, to capture better images.
A notable year for auroral activity in 2024 saw the strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades, while forecasters predict continued high levels of northern lights activity in 2025 due to a solar maximum reached on the sun’s surface.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2024/12/24/northern-lights-forecast-heres-where-aurora-borealis-can-be-seen-on-christmas-eve