Stargazers in parts of the U.S. may be treated to a stunning display of the northern lights this Valentine’s Day.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has predicted G1 geomagnetic storm conditions for Thursday evening, potentially bringing aurora activity to Earth by Friday. According to NOAA, a G1 storm is classified as minor on the planetary K-index, which measures geomagnetic disturbances on a scale from zero to nine.
According to NOAA’s aurora viewline map, states such as Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Alaska may witness the northern lights in the coming days if conditions are favorable.
The auroras could also stretch as far south as northern Michigan and Maine, depending on the intensity of the solar storm.
The sun is currently at its solar maximum—the peak of its cycle when solar activity and energy discharge are at their highest—leading to increased northern lights activity in recent months.
Coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are bursts of magnetized plasma from the sun’s corona, travel toward Earth as part of the solar wind. When this material interacts with Earth’s magnetic field, it produces vibrant displays of green and pink auroras.
According to NOAA, the latest geomagnetic storm will be primarily driven by a high solar wind event, the same phenomenon that triggered a G1 storm on Sunday.
Predicting the exact timing and location of northern lights visibility remains challenging, as coronal mass ejections (CMEs) must travel approximately 93 million miles from the sun to Earth—a journey that can take several days, according to space experts.
However, the citizen science platform Aurorasaurus helps track aurora activity by sending alerts to users when the northern lights may be visible in their area. It also provides real-time updates on where auroras are currently being observed.
According to NOAA, the best times to view the northern lights are during the hours just before and after midnight. Space experts recommend finding a location away from light pollution, including the brightness of a full moon, for the best viewing experience.
According to NASA, smartphones and digital cameras are more sensitive to the aurora’s range of colors and can capture the northern lights even when they are not visible to the naked eye.
