Here's where to see the Northern Lights this evening

Topline

The Northern Lights may be visible from 11 states Sunday evening, according to an update from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as space weather researchers predict persistent geomagnetic activity that could trigger a powerful aurora.

Important facts

Where will the Northern Lights be visible tonight?

States lying north of or crossing the line of sight include Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine. The chance of seeing the Northern Lights is low in most regions within the state, but the chance is much higher in the upper regions of Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota.

How do you see the Northern Lights?

The lights are typically most active between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. NOAA recommends viewing the lights as close to the poles as possible, avoiding light pollution, monitoring weather forecasts for optimal viewing conditions and finding a position on a vantage point such as a hill.

How do you photograph the lights?

Night mode and longer exposure times on smartphones can help viewers take photos of the northern lights and increase camera exposure.

Important background

The forecast for Sunday follows relatively strong forecasts for Friday and Saturday night with Kp indices of five and seven respectively. The expected peak of Solar Cycle 25, the Sun's 11-year solar cycle, which is expected to peak between late 2024 and early 2026, has led to a surge in solar activity in recent months. The cycle is predicted to produce increasing sunspots (115 to be exact) and increasing geomagnetic storms.

Further reading

Northern Lights forecast updated for this weekend – Aurora Borealis could be visible in these states (Forbes)

Northern Lights Update: This is where Aurora Borealis can be seen tonight (Forbes)

Northern Lights forecast updated – Aurora Borealis could be visible in these states (Forbes)