NOAA predicts modest aurora visibility across nine U.S. states tonight
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts a Kp index of 4 for Thursday night, giving parts of Alaska, Montana, North Dakota and several other northern states a chance to see the northern lights.
NOAA’s current aurora forecast assigns a Kp index of 4 to Thursday night, indicating a relatively bright display that has moved farther from the polar regions. While Alaska remains the most promising area, portions of Montana, North Dakota, northern Minnesota, and the northern reaches of Washington, Idaho, Michigan, South Dakota and Wisconsin also have a modest chance of spotting the lights. No geomagnetic storms are projected for either Thursday or the upcoming weekend, and Friday’s forecast mirrors Thursday’s Kp 4 level.
The agency recommends observers wait until after dark, ideally between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., and choose high-latitude sites with minimal light pollution. Photographers seeking to capture the event should use stable, wide-angle setups and, for smartphone users, enable night mode and shoot in RAW. Aurora activity has been unusually high in recent years, peaking in 2024, but is expected to wane as the solar cycle declines.
Why it matters
People interested in skywatching can plan where and when to view a rare aurora display across the U.S.
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