Topline There’s a chance the Northern Lights will return to parts of the U.S. Friday night, the latest sightings since May’s historic geometric storms that wowed the country with its colorful displays.
Photograph of the Northern Lights, also known as, an Aurora. Key Facts Friday night’s aurora borealis has a Kp index of four , meaning the lights will move further from the poles and appear brighter to observers, causing them to be “pleasing to look at” under the correct viewing conditions, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Canada and Alaska have a higher chance of seeing the lights, though they may be visible in many parts of the continental U.
S. into the weekend, according to the aurora’s forecast. The NOAA also announced minor to moderate M-class solar flares—which are intense bursts of radiation caused by the release of magnetic energy from solar spots—are expected throughout the weekend from three regions of the sun with a slight possibility of strong X-class flares, which caused May’s dazzling lights.
Solar activity has been unusually busy in recent months as the sun’s 11-year solar cycle approaches its anticipated peak between late 2024 and early 2026, with sunspots expected to intensify over the next year, and likely triggering more geomagnetic storms. Where Will The Northern Lights Be Visible Tonight? Though it’s difficult to pinpoint where exactly the lights will be visible, the NOAA offers a forecast with a potential.