Northern Lights Expected in 18 States of the USA

• In 18 states of the USA, the northern lights are expected on September 7-8.
• The best conditions for observing in the northern states and Canada.
• NOAA recommendations regarding the observation and photographing of the northern lights.

Main Information

On Thursday, September 7, 2025, there is a possibility of observing the northern lights in the northern states of the USA. This phenomenon is related to a coronal mass ejection that will impact the geomagnetic field of Earth. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that the Kp index will reach six on a nine-point scale, indicating increased activity of polar lights.

It is predicted that on Thursday evening and at night on Friday, there will be significant geomagnetic storms caused by a solar flare on September 5. On Friday evening and at night on Saturday, increased activity of the northern lights is also expected with a maximum Kp of five.

Where Can You See the Northern Lights?

The best chances to observe the northern lights will be in northern Canada and Alaska. Visibility will be possible through Iowa and northern Illinois, with lower chances in the states of Washington, Montana, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, and also in parts of Oregon, Wyoming, southern Dakota, Nebraska, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.

How to Best Observe the Northern Lights?

NOAA recommends heading to the northern horizon, away from light pollution, from 10:00 PM to 2:00 AM local time. For photographing, it is best to use night mode on a smartphone or a wide-angle lens on a regular camera with maximum aperture.

Forecast

Activity of the northern lights is expected to last until the beginning of 2026, as the activity on the surface of the Sun will reach its maximum in 2024. This is associated with the solar cycle, which triggers the northern lights when electrons collide with molecules of oxygen and nitrogen in Earth's atmosphere.

Tags: USA/Weather