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NOAA Forecasts Northern Lights Chance Saturday Night Across Northern U.S. and Canada

Dark new-moon skies coincide with a minor, coronal-hole-driven storm, improving visibility for rural viewers.

Overview

  • NOAA projects minor G1 geomagnetic activity Saturday night into early Sunday, keeping northern lights possible for parts of Canada and the northern United States.
  • The setup comes from a coronal hole on the Sun that is sending a fast solar wind stream which is stirring Earth’s magnetic field.
  • Likely viewing zones include Alaska and the far northern parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine, with visibility most likely low on the northern horizon.
  • The best window runs about 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. local time under clear, dark skies at the new moon, and NOAA’s 30‑minute aurora map and apps that use DSCOVR solar-wind data help track real-time changes.
  • Forecasts earlier in the period briefly cited G2 potential and Kp near 4–5 on Thursday and Friday, but current guidance centers on G1 conditions through Saturday.