Aurora borealis will be visible in more states north of the U.S. on Friday night due to high-speed winds from a spot on the sun’s surface affecting Earth’s magnetic field, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Friday’s Kp index forecast is 5 out of 9, indicating aurora borealis will be visible in areas south of the North Pole. The Northern Lights are expected to be “quite pleasing” for those in these regions.
A coronal hole high-speed stream from a cooler area on the sun’s surface may cause a geomagnetic storm later Friday, potentially pulling the northern lights further south. In contrast, auroral activity is forecasted to be calmer this weekend with a Kp index of 3 out of 9 for Saturday and Sunday.
For those wanting to witness the Northern Lights, Alaska has the highest chance of visibility, while areas in the northeastern U.S. have a lower likelihood. To increase chances, travel to high vantage points away from light pollution between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time or use night mode on smartphone cameras.
The increased frequency of aurora borealis sightings is attributed to a sustained “solar maximum” in 2025, according to NASA. Solar activity increases every 11 years, resulting in solar flares and coronal mass ejections that produce the Northern Lights.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/02/14/northern-lights-forecast-heres-where-aurora-borealis-may-appear-on-valentines-day