The Northern Lights Could Be Visible from Almost Every State Tonight
A strong geomagnetic storm is expected to hit on October 10.
My fellow space enthusiasts, you better brace yourselves: Tonight could be one for the books in terms of northern lights sightings, because the gorgeous phenomenon may be visible from almost every state in the US.
According to the most recent forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a "severe" (G4) geomagnetic storm is expected to hit this evening. If you're an aurora borealis fan, you already know what that means: the stronger the storm, the higher the number of states that might be able to catch a glimpse of it.
As per the official NOAA storm intensity scale, a severe geomagnetic storm means that the northern lights could be seen "as low as Alabama and northern California," or "typically 45° geomagnetic latitude."
However, you could see the phenomenon even if you're located further south. On X, Eric Snitil, Chief Meteorologist at WROC in Rochester, New York, shared a snapshot of the states that could potentially see the aurora tonight (both with a naked eye and with a camera lens), and those include southern states such as South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, among others.
Don't forget that geomagnetic storm predictions can change at the last minute, and they aren't 100% accurate. If you can't see the northern lights tonight, just make sure to set a daily reminder to check geomagnetic storm predictions, and be on the lookout for the most intense ones for a higher chance of witnessing the jaw-dropping phenomenon.
To stay up to date with the latest aurora forecasts and NOAA's predictions, you can visit the dedicated website.