Northern Lights Visible in 27 States Tonight

Millions of Americans will get a front-row seat to one of nature's most spectacular shows tonight, as the northern lights dance across skies in 27 states.

A powerful solar storm reached severe levels early Tuesday morning, supercharging the aurora borealis and pushing its visibility far beyond the usual northern states. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center says the heightened geomagnetic activity means stronger, more vibrant displays for hopeful viewers.

States from Alabama to New Mexico caught glimpses of the lights Monday night. Tonight's forecast looks even more promising, with the aurora predicted to appear across Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Your best viewing window runs from around 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. local time, when the aurora is typically most active and visually stunning. Find a dark spot away from city lights, look north, and let your eyes adjust for about 15 minutes.

This isn't a fluke occurrence. The sun hit the peak of its 11-year solar cycle in 2025, and astronomers say solar activity will remain high throughout 2026. That means more opportunities for people across the country to witness these magical displays without traveling to the Arctic Circle.

Why This Inspires

The northern lights remind us that we're part of something much bigger than our daily routines. When charged particles from the sun collide with Earth's atmosphere 60 miles above our heads, they create ribbons of green, pink, and purple light that have captivated humans for thousands of years.

Tonight, a child in Pennsylvania might see the same celestial wonder that an Inuit elder watched decades ago in Alaska. A family in Ohio could step outside together and witness the universe putting on a free show just for them. These shared moments of awe connect us across distances and differences.

The forecast may shift as the storm evolves, but the opportunity remains. Sometimes the most beautiful experiences come when we simply look up.