24 States Could See Aurora Amid Geomagnetic Storm Saturday Night
Forbes • • technology
Key Points:
- Nearly half of U.S. states may see the northern lights Saturday night due to a predicted minor geomagnetic storm, according to NOAA.
- Alaska has the highest chance of viewing the aurora, with other strong possibilities in Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota, while the southernmost visibility line extends through over a dozen additional states.
- NOAA advises viewers to go north, find high vantage points, avoid light pollution, and watch between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time for the best viewing experience.
- For photography, experts recommend using a wide-angle lens, low shutter speed, a tripod, and for iPhone users, night mode with flash off and RAW format for capturing the northern lights.
- The northern lights have been unusually active during the solar maximum of 2024-2025, with displays seen as far south as Texas and Florida, but solar activity is expected to decrease later in the decade.
