I popped onto The Weather Channel’s website this week to see what was headed our way and the top story stopped me in my tracks. Amazingly, some Northern states that don’t typically get to see the Northern lights may be able to view them tonight and tomorrow night!
Apparently, due to an 11-year solar cycle that peaks in 2025, the lights are visible farther south because of a shift in the sun’s magnetic fields. During peak aurora borealis viewing season (late winter/early spring), the lights were even visible as far south as North Carolina, Arizona, and central California. Parts of southern England and Ireland have also been treated to the light show.
The solar storm will bring the aurora borealis to at least parts of the following states:
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oregon
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
According to the University of Alaska’s Geophysical Institute, the best time for viewing will be between 10 PM and 2 AM local time, assuming you have a clear night and can get away from your local light pollution. I’d love to hear if you manage to see something!
In the meantime, below are some of the more amazing Northern lights photos from Instagram!
You can check The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 30-minute forecast website for locations and intensities of the phenomena.
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My OBT 
July 12, 2023 at 7:13 am
I’m hoping to head north in Michigan tomorrow late afternoon to see what I can see. I doubt it will be like THESE images, but it should still be fun!
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July 13, 2023 at 10:01 am
How cool! Hope you get a good show!
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July 12, 2023 at 8:51 am
No doubt it would be fun to see in person…but so is a clear dark blue sky and all of the stars shining above us. I live in the “dark” of country and can see the stars.
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July 13, 2023 at 10:02 am
Agreed. We have a lot of light pollution from JFK airport, so we don’t get to see as much as we’d like.
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July 12, 2023 at 10:03 am
I have seen Aurora Borealis twice in my life (in North and West Scotland) but I would love to see a really dramatic showing of the Northern Lights.
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July 13, 2023 at 10:03 am
Me, too. We though about planning a trip to Nova Scotia this year just for that purpose, but the timing was off. Maybe next year.
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July 18, 2023 at 7:56 am
We’re going to Tromso, Norway over February break in hopes of a great show. We saw them dimly in Finland before we had kids. Left us wanting to see more. Apparently Fairbanks and Tromso are two great places.
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July 21, 2023 at 11:19 am
How wonderful! Looking forward to photos. Have a magnificent trip!
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