Here’s Where Aurora Borealis Could Be Visible Monday

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The northern lights could be visible on Monday night, forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said, as high speed solar winds could potentially cause minor geomagnetic storms that make the aurora brighter.

High speed solar winds will continue impacting the Earth and could make the aurora visible again in northern states on Monday.

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Forecasters at NOAA predicted a Kp index of four out of nine for Monday night, meaning the aurora could be visible from some northern states along the U.S.-Canadian border and appear brighter with more “motion and formations.”

High speed streams from a coronal hole, a cooler, less dense region of the Sun, could cause minor geomagnetic storms, NOAA said in its three-day forecast.

What To Watch For

The geomagnetic storms are expected to reach moderate strength by midday on Tuesday, NOAA forecasters said. Astronomers observed an X-class solar flare late on Sunday evening and early Monday morning, which NOAA said was associated with “degradation” of high frequency radio signals on the Earth’s sunlit side when it happened—primarily Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. A coronal mass ejection, a burst of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun’s outermost atmosphere, happened at the same time, NOAA said. When these eruptions reach Earth, they can interact with the Earth’s magnetic field and cause stronger geomagnetic storms. Forecasters are currently expecting this ejection to reach Earth by Tuesday, combining with the influence from the solar winds to potentially create an even stronger aurora borealis for viewers.

Where Could The Northern Lights Be Visible Monday?

The aurora could be visible in parts of states along the U.S.-Canadian border, according to NOAA’s view map for Monday. These include northern Washington, the Idaho Panhandle, most of Montana, North Dakota and northern South Dakota. Parts of the upper Midwest could also see the aurora, including northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. The lights could also be visible from the very northern portion of Maine, as well as most of Alaska.

NOAA’s view line for Monday.

NOAAWhat’s The Best Way To View The Northern Lights?

Experts at NOAA recommend viewers should travel north, towards the Earth’s magnetic north pole located in northern Canada. They should find a vantage point away from city lights with a clear view of the northern night sky. The aurora can be visible up to 600 miles away from where it appears, according to NOAA. Viewers should try to time their trip to the hours the aurora is typically most active—between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.

What’s The Best Way To Photograph The Northern Lights?

Modern smartphones are now capable of taking quality photos of the northern lights, according to experts who spoke to National Geographic. Prospective photographers should set their phones’ cameras on night mode, turn off flash and shoot in RAW image format. They should also remember to bring a tripod to mount their device, experts advise.