Topline
The northern lights could be visible across parts of the northern U.S. on Monday night, according to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as the Earth experiences heightened geomagnetic storms after rare “strong” storm conditions on Saturday night.
The Earth could again see elevated geomagnetic storm conditions making the aurora more visible than usual, according to NOAA.
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Key Facts
NOAA predicted a Kp index of five out of nine on Monday night, meaning the aurora borealis could appear brighter and more active than usual in some northern states.
Forecasters are not expecting geomagnetic storms, although NOAA’s most recent three-day forecast does note the Earth could see “mild” levels (G1 on NOAA’s scale out of five) of geomagnetic activity early on Tuesday morning.
Geomagnetic storms can cause the aurora to appear brighter and visible farther south, and the Earth reached “strong,” or G3 storm conditions, on Saturday night.
Where Could the Northern Lights Be Visible?
The aurora could be visible from states along the U.S.-Canadian border, according to NOAA”s forecast map for Monday night. These include northern Washington, northern Idaho, most of Montana, essentially all of North Dakota, much of Minnesota, northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Far northern stretches of South Dakota and Wyoming are also shown with a chance in the forecast. The lights have a “high” likelihood to appear over most of Alaska, according to the forecast.
What’s the Best Way to View the Northern Lights?
Viewers should try to travel as far north as possible to get the best views of the aurora borealis, according to experts at NOAA. They should position themselves on a vantage point with a clear view of the sky facing north, ideally far from cities or other sources of bright lights. The aurora is more visible in the dark and on nights without a full moon. The best times to view the aurora are generally the hours before and after midnight, according to experts. The Earth also typically experiences more geomagnetic activity around the spring and autumnal equinoxes in March and September, respectively.
What’s the Best Way to Photograph the Northern Lights?
A photographer who spoke to National Geographic said viewers can use smartphones to capture quality photos of the northern lights, provided they use the right settings and equipment. They recommend photographers use their device’s night mode, turn off flash and shoot in RAW image format for the best results.
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