Northern Lights May Dance Across 15 States Tonight

Nature is putting on a show tonight, and millions of Americans might have front-row seats to one of Earth's most breathtaking phenomena.

The northern lights could shimmer across skies in 15 states tonight as a high-speed solar wind stream reaches Earth. According to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, the celestial display may be visible as far south as Idaho and New York through January 18.

A massive coronal hole on the sun is sending speedy solar winds toward Earth. When these winds collide with our magnetosphere, they can trigger minor to moderate geomagnetic storms that paint the sky with dancing curtains of green, purple, and red light.

States in the viewing zone include Alaska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Wisconsin, Michigan, South Dakota, Idaho, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Washington, Iowa, Wyoming, and New York. But auroras are unpredictable—if conditions strengthen, the lights could reach even farther south than forecasted.

The best viewing window runs from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m. EST, though auroras could appear as soon as darkness falls. Your phone camera can actually spot faint auroral glows before your naked eye can, making it a helpful scouting tool.

Finding a dark spot away from city lights with a clear view of the northern horizon will give you the best chance. Give your eyes at least 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness, and resist checking your phone screen, which resets the adaptation process.

Why This Inspires

This cosmic light show reminds us that wonder still exists in our everyday world. No ticket required, no reservation needed—just step outside and look up. In our screen-filled lives, these moments reconnect us with the natural world and remind us we're part of something much bigger.

Space weather apps like "My Aurora Forecast & Alerts" can send notifications when conditions look promising in your area. Bundle up in layers since aurora chasing often means waiting outside in winter cold, but the potential payoff makes it worthwhile.

Tonight, millions of people might share the same sky, witnessing the same beauty at the same time.