Northern Lights Forecast: Geomagnetic Storms Could Bring Aurora Borealis Tonight

[Lori Dee]

Northern Lights Forecast: Geomagnetic Storms Could Bring Aurora Borealis To These 10 States Tonight
Link to Full Article (with Map)
Forbes - Ty Roush
Apr 21, 2025,08:57am EDT

Auroral activity is forecast with a Kp index of four on a scale of nine for Monday night, suggesting the northern lights will move farther from the poles and be "quite pleasing to look at" for those in the right areas.

There will be "periods" of minor to moderate geomagnetic storms through Wednesday as the effects of a coronal hole high-speed stream, a cooler, less dense spot on the sun's surface, disrupts Earth's magnetic field, according to NOAA's three-day forecast.

NOAA expects auroral activity to increase Tuesday with a maximum Kp index of six, before it calms down slightly on Thursday with an expected Kp index of nearly five.

Most of Alaska and northern Canada will have the best chance to see the northern lights, while a minimum opportunity marked by a "view line" sweeps just north of Iowa. Areas in northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, northern Montana, North Dakota and northern Minnesota have a lesser chance, while an even lower likelihood is forecast across South Dakota, Wisconsin, Upper Michigan and Maine.

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