The Northern Lights dance over the sweeping Red Deer River and Badlands of southern Alberta. (Photo … More by: Alan Dyer/VW Pics/UIG via Getty Images)

Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Updated, April 15, 2025: Reacting to the arrival of multiple coronal mass ejections, NOAA has upgraded its forecasts to a G3 geomagnetic storm on April 16, which is classified as “strong” and can lead to auroras appearing at lower latitudes, potentially as far south as 45 degrees. Auroras are now expected in Canada and northern-tier U.S. States.

The Northern Lights may be visible in the U.S. this week after a surge in solar activity. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center, the aurora could be seen in U.S. states Tuesday and Wednesday thanks to a G2-rated geomagnetic storm resulting from two coronal mass ejections on the sun. It comes a major meteor shower begins this week.

The latest forecast is for a geomagnetic storm this week, with a “moderate” G2 geomagnetic storm striking on Wednesday, April 16, with aurora displays possible in northern U.S. states and Canada. The geomagnetic storm on May 10, 2024, which saw aurora as far south as Florida, was rated a G5 and was the most powerful since 2003.

Where To See The Northern Lights In The U.S. This Week

A separate prediction shows that nearly all of Canada — except for Atlantic Canada — has a very high likelihood of seeing the aurora on Tuesday, April 15. A total of 17 U.S. states have a chance of seeing the aurora on the northern horizon, with Alaska and those on the U.S.-Canada border having a higher chance.

Two coronal mass ejections — clouds of supercharged particles — were produced. These are what could cause disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field later this week. CMEs travel to Earth over the course of a few days. “The CMEs are expected to reach Earth on April 16, a one-two punch sparking G2-class geomagnetic storms,” reports SpaceWeather.com.

The Kp index — which provides a rough guide to the intensity of aurora displays — may reach 6, which will see the auroral oval stretch farther south. Kp 6 equates to a G2-class geomagnetic storm. According to NOAA, for a Kp in the range of 6 to 7, the aurora can be “bright and active,” and it may be “possible to see the aurora from the northern edge of the United States.”

NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center’s aurora viewline prediction for Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center

The 17 U.S. States That Could See Aurora This Week

Parts of U.S. states that could potentially see the aurora, according to NOAA, include Alaska, Washington, northern Oregon, northern Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, northern Iowa, Wisconsin, northern Illinois, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Areas far from light pollution are likely to get the best views.

When To See Aurora In The U.S. This Week

Exactly when and where aurora becomes visible this week will be down not to predictions, but data coming in from NASA’s DSCOVR and ACE satellites — situated about a million miles from Earth — which allows for a roughly 30-minute warning. It measures the solar wind’s speed and magnetic intensity, which is critical in calculating how the solar wind will affect Earth’s magnetic field. Check NOAA’s 30-minute forecast or use the Glendale App for alerts.

What’s Causing This Display

The Northern Lights are caused by the solar wind, a stream of charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth’s magnetic field. Last weekend saw a surge in solar activity, with eight M-rated solar flares — an intense burst of electromagnetic radiation. This occured between Friday and Monday. Solar flares travel at light speed and fuel the solar wind throughout the solar system but do not cause aurora. Unusually, these solar flares didn’t come from sunspots, dark patches on the sun’s surface indicating intense magnetic activity.

Instead, they resulted when two magnetic filaments detached from the sun. Magnetic filaments were described as “long tubes of dense plasma held above the sun’s surface by magnetic forces” by SpaceWeather.com, which reported that they became unstable “twice in quick succession on April 12th and 13th—a rare double blast.” Crucially, following the solar flares and the exploding filaments, two CMEs were produced.

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.