Where to Spot the Northern Lights in the US Tonight

Northern Lights Forecast: Where You Might See the Aurora Monday Night

A significant solar storm has space weather forecasters issuing a strong alert: the Northern Lights may dance across skies much farther south than usual tonight. A series of powerful solar eruptions has sent a stream of charged particles, known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), racing toward Earth.

When this solar material collides with our planet's magnetic field, it can supercharge the aurora borealis, potentially making it visible in northern-tier U.S. states and possibly even further.

Geomagnetic Storm Watch in Effect

The official Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a G2, or Moderate, Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Monday, May 13. This classification indicates the incoming solar energy is strong enough to expand the aurora's visibility. The storm's intensity could fluctuate, potentially reaching G3 (Strong) levels, which would push the spectacular light show even deeper into populated areas.

"The key factors are the strength of the storm and the timing of its arrival," explained a space weather physicist not affiliated with BNN. "If the main impact hits during the overnight hours when it's dark, the chances for a widespread display go up significantly."

Where to Look for the Aurora Tonight

Visibility is highly dependent on local conditions—namely, dark skies away from city lights and a clear view to the north. Based on the current forecast:

High Probability: Alaska, Canada, and the northernmost reaches of the U.S. like Maine, Michigan, and Washington.

Possible Viewing: States along the U.S.-Canada border, including parts of New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Montana, and Idaho.

Low Chance, But Not Impossible: If the storm intensifies, sightings have been reported as far south as Illinois, Iowa, or Nebraska during extreme events.

Observers are advised to look north after 10 p.m. local time, with the best window often occurring in the hours around midnight. While the aurora can appear as faint, glowing clouds to the naked eye, smartphone cameras, with their long-exposure capabilities, can often capture more vivid colors.

A Period of Increased Solar Activity

This event is part of the Sun's increasing activity as it approaches the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, expected in the next year. More frequent solar flares and CMEs are anticipated, leading to more opportunities for auroral displays—and also raising potential risks for minor disruptions to satellite communications and power grids during the strongest storms.

For the latest updates on the storm's progression and real-time sighting reports, monitoring official space weather channels is recommended. Breaking Now News will continue to track this developing event.