NOAA: Aurora Borealis to Appear Across 22 U.S. States and Parts of Canada — Best Viewing Late Thursday into Friday

Aurora alert: Northern Lights expected across wide swath of North America

Nov. 6 — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says the Aurora Borealis — commonly called the Northern Lights — will be visible in at least 22 U.S. states and in parts of Canada as geomagnetic storms continue through Friday.

NOAA officials said on Thursday that the displays, driven by ongoing geomagnetic activity, are likely to persist through Friday. The agency noted that auroras “can often be observed somewhere on Earth from just after sunset or just before sunrise” and emphasized they are “not visible during daylight hours.”

Forecasters said the aurora could be visible across the northern United States, reaching as far south as Illinois and Nebraska, and across Canada and other countries. Experts advised that late Thursday night into the early hours of Friday will probably offer the best viewing window.

Visibility note: Bright auroras do not need to be overhead to be seen — NOAA says they can be observed from as far as 1,000 km (about 620 miles) away when conditions are right.

Last month’s event was reported in at least 15 U.S. states.

Viewing tips

For the best experience: seek out dark skies away from city lights, allow your eyes to adjust to the dark, and watch during the hours just after sunset or just before sunrise when skies are clear.

Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).