Aurora forecast
The map shows where and how strongly the aurora is expected to be visible in the next 30 to 90 minutes.
Tonight’s Aurora forecast over USA
Tonight’s aurora forecast over the USA from NOAA shows a predicted map of where the northern lights may be visible across North America, with a “viewline” marking the southernmost areas from which you could see the aurora on the northern horizon based on the expected geomagnetic activity tonight (6 pm to 6 am Central Time). The forecast uses colors and contours to estimate the intensity and location of the aurora around the magnetic pole, and if the predicted activity is strong enough, auroras could be seen well into the northern United States after dark, though darkness and clear skies are still needed for viewing. Table of Contents
What is Aurora
Aurora, also called the Northern Lights, is a natural light display in the sky caused by charged particles from the Sun hitting Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere. These particles collide with gases high above the Earth, creating glowing colors such as green, pink, red, and purple. Auroras are most often seen near the North Pole during dark, clear nights and become stronger when solar activity is high.
Increased solar activity
In recent years, increased solar activity has pushed the aurora farther south than usual, making the Northern Lights visible not only near the Arctic but also across parts of the USA, Europe, and Asia.
What Aurora map shows
This map shows where the northern lights are likely to appear in the next 30 to 90 minutes. It is based on real-time space weather data collected by satellites and processed by NOAA, the U.S. space weather agency.
