The Bay Area and parts of California had a chance to see the northern lights again Wednesday night, but an incoming storm and heavy cloud cover reduced viewing odds across much of the state. Two strong geomagnetic storms already lit skies as far south as Napa, Contra Costa and Alameda counties, and a faster coronal mass ejection was expected to arrive midday Wednesday. NOAA said aurora activity could reach much of the northern U.S., though conditions were "generally weakening, but variable." Experts recommend photographing the northern sky — cameras often reveal the faint red glow better than the eye.
Northern Lights Could Return to California Tonight — Incoming Storm May Block the View
The Bay Area and parts of California had a chance to see the northern lights again Wednesday night, but an incoming storm and heavy cloud cover reduced viewing odds across much of the state. Two strong geomagnetic storms already lit skies as far south as Napa, Contra Costa and Alameda counties, and a faster coronal mass ejection was expected to arrive midday Wednesday. NOAA said aurora activity could reach much of the northern U.S., though conditions were "generally weakening, but variable." Experts recommend photographing the northern sky — cameras often reveal the faint red glow better than the eye.
12:58 AM, 11/14/2025Science
Northern lights may return to California tonight — but cloud cover could hide the show
California residents who missed this week's rare aurora display were watching Wednesday evening for another possible appearance, though incoming weather threatened to obscure views across much of the state.
Two strong geomagnetic storms painted the sky in deep pinks and bright oranges on Tuesday night, allowing observers in Napa, Contra Costa and Alameda counties to see the aurora borealis well south of its usual high-latitude range. Forecasters warned a third event, a coronal mass ejection (CME), was expected to arrive midday Wednesday and could continue producing activity into the night.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center said the aurora could be visible "over much of the northern half of the country, and maybe as far south as Alabama to Northern California" on Wednesday night. By about 6 p.m. Wednesday, NOAA posted on X that conditions were "generally weakening, but variable." That, combined with an approaching storm system, lowered the odds of widespread viewing in California.
Cloud cover outlook: Meteorologists said the incoming weather would likely bring heavy cloud cover across the coast and the Bay Area. Chronicle senior newsroom meteorologist Greg Porter warned, "It will be a pretty rough night for cloud cover," while noting a few clearer windows could develop around the Central Coast, the southern Central Valley and parts of the southern Sierra.
What you might see: Even where skies clear, the reddish glow typical of many geomagnetic events can be faint to the unaided eye. Travis Rector, an astrophysicist at the University of Alaska Anchorage, predicted a "reddish hazy color" that may blend with clouds or fog. He recommended pointing a camera or smartphone to the north and taking photos: "Our cameras are actually quite good at seeing this red light — what your camera sees will probably be nicer than what your eyes see."
Forecast strength and solar cycle context: Forecasters expected the third CME to be the strongest of the three. Shawn Dahl, service coordinator at the Space Weather Prediction Center, said the latest burst was "traveling significantly faster" toward Earth and could "pack even a stronger punch" at its peak.
Scientists note that as the Sun approaches the peak of its roughly 11-year solar cycle, space-weather events such as CMEs, sunspots and solar flares become more frequent. At their most severe, geomagnetic storms can disrupt satellites, navigation and communication systems, and even power grids. Don Hampton, a space science professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, cited the 1989 geomagnetic storm that knocked out Quebec's power grid as an example and said forecasting has improved substantially since then.
Practical tips: If you hope to catch the aurora, look north from a dark location away from city lights. Check local cloud forecasts and NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center updates. If you see a faint reddish glow, take photos — cameras often reveal details the eye cannot.
Key takeaway: A notable geomagnetic event could produce aurora visible as far south as Northern California, but an incoming storm and heavy clouds make sightings uncertain. Cameras may capture the glow better than the naked eye.