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9h ago

G2 Geomagnetic Storm Could Push Northern Lights Into 20 U.S. States Tonight

A coronal hole’s high-speed solar wind is expected to power the display.

The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, were spotted over Prosperous Lake near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, on March 13, 2026.
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Northern lights glimmer above the Columbia River Gorge from Chanticleer Point Lookout early on May 11, 2024, in Latourell, Oregon.
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Overview

  • NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center has a moderate G2 watch for Friday night into early Saturday, with peak viewing typically between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time.
  • Forecasts suggest aurora visibility on the northern horizon across roughly 18 to 20 states, including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.
  • The driver is a co-rotating interaction region formed as fast solar wind from a coronal hole overtakes slower wind, and a sustained southward Bz magnetic orientation would let more energy enter Earth’s magnetosphere.
  • NOAA’s Aurora Viewline remains offline, so observers are urged to check NOAA’s 30-minute aurora forecast or trusted apps for live updates as conditions can change fast.
  • A new moon will darken skies for viewers, while G2 conditions can bring minor to moderate radio disruptions, so seek dark, north-facing spots and use Night Mode or long exposures to capture faint glows.