Northern Lights Alert: 15 States May See Aurora Borealis Tonight
Wednesday night’s aurora viewing line stretches down to the northern edge of Iowa, allowing many northern U.S. states a chance to witness the northern lights. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has upgraded its forecast, predicting increased auroral activity through Thursday.
Auroral Activity Forecast
NOAA issued a Kp index of five for Wednesday night, indicating a higher level of geomagnetic activity that can produce an aurora "quite pleasing to look at" for viewers in optimal locations. The curved viewing line from NOAA reaches as far south as northern Iowa, with a growing probability of seeing the aurora borealis the farther north one is from this line.
Looking ahead, Thursday’s forecast calls for an even stronger display with a Kp index of seven. According to NOAA, this means the northern lights “will become quite bright and active,” offering a better chance for observers to see the spectacle.
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Summary
This week, northern U.S. states have promising chances to witness vivid northern lights, with intensifying geomagnetic activity expected from Wednesday night into Thursday.