Geomagnetic storm brings chance to see northern lights in 16 states

Saman Shafiq and Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAYTue, March 31, 2026 at 5:35 PM UTC

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A geomagnetic storm is expected to bring a chance of viewing the northern lights to northern and upper Midwest states from New York to Idaho as March gives way to April.

The natural phenomenon, presenting an array of neon, may be viewable beginning in the late-night hours of Tuesday, March 31, into the early morning of Wednesday, April 1, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center.

The space weather prediction center issued the storm watch early Monday after a "fairly fast coronal mass ejection" was detected on March 29.

"A CME is anticipated to reach and impact Earth with elevated geomagnetic response and dependent upon the orientation of the embedded magnetic field," NOAA said in a post on Facebook, explaining coronal mass ejection, or CME, is "an eruption of solar material and magnetic fields."

Here's what to know about this week's chance to view the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights.

1 / 0See the Northern Lights dazzle in January 2026 with stunning viewsImage licensed for 1-time use for 1/20/26 aurora borealis gallery Additional use requires relicensing. The aurora borealis lights up the sky on Jan. 20, 2026 in Beiji Village, Mohe City, Heilongjiang Province of China. A recent geomagnetic storm created stunning aurora shows across the globe. Strong solar activity could make the northern lights visible in roughly two dozen states on Jan. 20. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/20/northern-lights-tonight-forecast/88261584007/When will the northern lights be viewable?

People in roughly 15 U.S. states may get the chance to see the aurora display between March 31 and April 1. The best times to view the lights are generally between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, according to NOAA, though this can vary significantly by location and as weather and visibility forecasts are .

More up-to-date forecasts can be found on NOAA'S Aurora Dashboard.

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Which states can see the northern lights?

How far and wide the auroras can clearly be seen will depend on whether the geomagnetic storm reaches a G1 to G2 (mild to moderate) or G3 (strong) level and the weather in your location. States that could catch a glimpse of the stunning lights, according to NOAA'S forecast map, include:

Oregon

Washington

Idaho

Montana

Wyoming

North Dakota

South Dakota

Minnesota

Iowa

Wisconsin

Michigan

New York

Vermont

New Hampshire

Maine

Alaska

The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, over the frozen Prosperous Lake near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, March 13, 2026.What are the northern lights, aka aurora borealis?

The northern lights are a luminous glow seen around the magnetic poles of the Northern and Southern hemispheres, according to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute. Known for creating ribbons of colorful light in the night sky, the aurora borealis are polar lights, or aurora polaris, that appear in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Southern Hemisphere has its own polar lights known as the southern lights, or aurora australis, which create their own dazzling display.

Put simply, auroras are a result of the sun interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere. A collision between electrically charged particles from the sun and gases in Earth’s atmosphere produces a series of minuscule flashes that appear like moving lights in the sky. The charged particles are pulled toward the North and South poles due to Earth’s magnetic field.

While that magnetic field usually protects the Earth from solar winds, the winds can occasionally get strong enough to bypass the field, allowing particles and gases in the magnetosphere to interact and generate the colorful displays, according to the Geophysical Institute and the Canadian Space Agency.

Tips for viewing the northern lights

The top tip for getting the best view of the northern lights is finding a dark spot away from light pollution. Space.com recommends finding a location as far as possible from city lights and heading out there as soon as the sky gets dark. Then, it's a waiting game.

Find a north-facing view with a clear horizon and exercise patience, as the lights often come in waves, said Space.com. You can also download apps to track aurora forecasts based on your location, such as "My Aurora Forecast & Alerts."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: See which US states will get chance to see northern lights tonight

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