Top line
The northernmost U.S. states will have a chance of seeing the Northern Lights for the second day in a row on Wednesday, according to an updated weather forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which also issued a moderate geomagnetic storm warning.
Northern Wisconsin is one of several regions of the state where the lights have little chance of being seen. … (+)
Key data
According to NOAA, a KP index of four is forecast for Wednesday night, meaning there could be brighter auroras and an increase in the formation and movement of northern lights.
The appearance of the lights is due to a geomagnetic storm that can cause ions to collide with Earth’s atmospheric gases, creating the Northern Lights.
The curved line of sight for the aurora is nearly identical to the line predicted for Tuesday night and extends into central South Dakota. However, the closer the observer is to the line of sight, the lower the chances of seeing the aurora are.
The updated forecast is far more favorable than the prediction released by NOAA on Tuesday for Wednesday night, when the observation line was far inland in Canada and auroral activity was declining sharply.
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Where will the Northern Lights be visible tonight?
There is a slight chance of seeing the lights Tuesday night in northern areas of Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine.
How do you see the Northern Lights?
The best time to observe the lights is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. They are also more likely to be seen if the observer is in an area with clear skies and no light pollution.
How do you photograph the Northern Lights?
If you want to take photos of the Northern Lights with your smartphone, you should use night mode and long shutter speeds if possible. Manual focusing can also be helpful for capturing the details of the Northern Lights.
Important background
Northern lights occur during increased solar activity, which includes solar flares and coronal mass ejections (the ejection of plasma from the sun). Solar activity has increased in several places over the past month, providing northern states, parts of Canada and Alaska with several opportunities to see the aurora borealis. NOAA predicts that the occurrence of sunspots, a source of geomagnetic storms that can trigger aurorae, will peak in 2025.
More information
Tips for observing the Aurora (NOAA)
What are the Northern Lights? And how can you see them? (BBC)
