However, there is now a chance that a G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm may develop, which could see mid-latitude auroras from much farther south than a G2 produces. A space weather forecast<\/a> from the Met Office in the U.K. has a \u201cchance of isolated G3\/Strong Storm intervals occurring,\u201d which could mean aurora being seen from as many as 27 U.S. states \u2014 from New York to Idaho.<\/p>\n With a new moon on April 17, the timing is perfect for dark skies.<\/p>\n Northern Lights Tonight: Where And When<\/p>\n Geomagnetic storms are ranked in terms of their intensity, from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme).<\/p>\n A G2-class geomagnetic storm could see aurora visible on the northern horizon from around 20 northern U.S. states and Canada on Friday, April 17, and into Saturday, April 18. U.S. states with the best chance include Alaska and (northerly parts of) Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine. Also in with a shout are states farther south, including Oregon, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire.<\/p>\n If G3 storming commences, those under very dark skies in Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland may also see aurora.<\/p>\n To check visibility in real time, use NOAA\u2019s 30-minute aurora forecast<\/a>, or download apps such as Aurora Now, My Aurora Forecast or Glendale Aurora for up-to-the-minute alerts and live solar wind data.<\/p>\n G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storm watches have been issued for 17-18 Apr, 2026 due to anticipated CH HSS effects. <\/p>\n NOAANorthern Lights Alert: Hole In Sun\u2019s Corona<\/p>\n The northern lights are caused by the solar wind, a constant stream of charged particles flowing from the sun that interacts with Earth\u2019s magnetic field. While most are deflected, some particles spiral along magnetic field lines toward the poles, colliding with oxygen and nitrogen atoms high in the atmosphere. These collisions excite the gases, causing them to release energy as shimmering light.<\/p>\n In this case, the solar wind is made more potent by what space weather forecasters call a co-rotating interaction region (CIR), when a blast of solar wind coming from a hole in the sun\u2019s corona (its outer atmosphere) overtakes slower background solar wind. According to Spaceweather.com<\/a>, CIRs are transition zones between fast and slow-moving streams of solar wind that contain shock waves and enhanced magnetic field.<\/p>\n Northern Lights Tonight: Forecast<\/p>\n \u201cSignificant enhancements [to the solar wind] are anticipated on 17 Apr with the onset of a corotating interaction region that will precede the arrival of a negative polarity high-speed stream,\u201d stated<\/a> NOAA.<\/p>\n That negative polarity is crucially important. Aurora-chasers frequently use the Kp index to predict the intensity of a geomagnetic storm, but for aurora displays, the interplanetary magnetic field\u2019s Bz component is more important (you\u2019ll find it in some of the above apps and on SpaceWeatherLive.com<\/a>). Bz determines how easily solar energy enters Earth\u2019s magnetosphere. When Bz points north (positive), Earth\u2019s field resists it; when Bz swings south (negative), the two fields connect, allowing plasma to stream in. A sustained southward Bz of \u22125 nT or stronger usually signals an imminent display of aurora.<\/p>\n Northern Lights Forecast: How To Photograph Aurora<\/p>\n The new moon makes this a great opportunity to capture long exposure photography of the aurora on the northern horizon. A mirrorless or DSLR camera is ideal (ISO 1600, 2-10 seconds, f2.8), though newer smartphones are increasingly capable of stunning results. If your smartphone has a Night Mode or Pro Mode, you can capture a beautiful aurora photo with these steps:<\/p>\n Use your main lens, not the ultra-wide, for sharper results.<\/p>\n Stabilize the camera using a tripod or rest it on a firm surface such as a car roof, wall, or post.<\/p>\n Shoot in RAW format if available, as it makes post-editing easier.<\/p>\n Expect long exposures between five and ten seconds. Even faint glows that look grayish to the eye often appear vividly green, purple or red in photos.<\/p>\n Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.<\/p>\n![\"image](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c860e6590b52598471bdfd1d290011bc.jpeg\"\/)
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