These U.S. states could see the Northern Lights tonight—here’s where and when to watch

Skywatchers across northern U.S. states have a rare chance to witness the aurora borealis this weekend. A flurry of solar activity combined with dark skies, due to a new moon, means favorable conditions for viewing the northern lights through the weekend.

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Why will the Northern Lights be visible in the U.S. this weekend?

The potential display stems from three back-to-back coronal mass ejections (CMEs)—massive clouds of magnetized plasma hurled into space following solar flare eruptions. According to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, these solar storms are expected to impact Earth from today through Sunday, October 11. Forecasters anticipate moderate geomagnetic storming (G2 conditions), with potential for stronger G3 spikes if incoming solar magnetic fields align favorably with Earth’s shield.

When will the Northern Lights be visible in the U.S. this weekend?

A bonus advantage this weekend is the new moon on Saturday, October 10. With no bright moonlight in the sky, darkness levels will reach their peak, making faint auroral displays substantially easier to see.

Where will the Northern Lights be visible in the U.S. this weekend?

If you're in border states—including Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine—you stand the best chance of spotting the vivid nighttime display. Should storm intensity reach G2 or G3 peaks, observers farther south in states like New York, Wyoming and northern Iowa may capture a faint glow low along the northern horizon.

How to see the Northern Lights in the U.S. this weekend

To maximize your chances of witnessing the lights, here's what to do:

• Get as far away from urban lights as you can; aim for dark-sky parks, rural overlooks or north-facing lakeshores.
• Give your eyes at least 20 minutes to adjust to the pitch darkness.
• Modern smartphone cameras are significantly more sensitive to faint wavelengths than human eyes. Point your camera north on a steady surface using exposure settings to reveal hidden green and magenta tones.

Real-time storm tracking is available through NOAA’s 30-minute aurora forecast updates and space weather tracking apps like SpaceWeatherLive and AuroraBuddy.