The northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, may be visible in several US states on Friday night if weather conditions allow. A solar storm that began earlier this week could make the display more widely visible. Here’s what you need to know:
The northern lights will be mostly visible in Canada and Alaska, but a thin red line indicates that they can also be seen in the northeastern corner of Washington, Idaho’s northern tip, Montana’s northern half, North Dakota, Minnesota’s northern half, Michigan’s northern-most top, Maine’s northwestern corner. To track the forecast, visit swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast.
The best time to see the northern lights is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., assuming clear weather. It’s essential to find a dark spot away from city lights, as artificial lights can diminish the display’s brightness.
The northern lights are caused by collisions between electrically-charged particles in space and molecules of gas in Earth’s atmosphere. This collision releases energy in the form of light, producing the colorful display.
Increased solar activity is contributing to the recent visibility of the northern lights throughout the US. Solar flares and charged plasma bubbles can cause geomagnetic storms, which lead to visible northern lights displays. With the sun at its peak 11-year solar cycle, this increased solar activity has made it possible for the northern lights to be seen in more states than usual.
(Story contributed by Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY; National trend reporter Greta Cross)
Source: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/02/14/northern-lights-forecast-northern-states-valentine-weekend/78610314007