Potential Aurora Borealis Appearance Tomorrow: States Predicted to Witness Northern Lights and "Shooting Stars"
According to forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center, the Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, may be visible in up to 15 U.S. states during the nights around August 12-13, 2025. This rare event coincides with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.
The potential for aurora sightings is due to a series of solar flares on the sun, which have caused a positive polarity Coronal High Speed Stream (CH HSS)—a stream of fast-moving solar wind from a coronal hole on the sun—to impact Earth. This solar activity has been at a 23-year high due to the current solar maximum period.
The geometry during equinox makes it easier for charged particles from the sun to be accelerated down the field lines of the Earth's magnetic field, potentially increasing the likelihood of aurora displays. The Earth's axis tilts by 23.5 degrees during equinox, making this time particularly favourable for aurora sightings.
The best aurora displays often occur in the few years after solar maximum, and if the current solar cycle has a long tail, good aurora sightings in the U.S. could persist for a few years. The agency's three-day forecast indicates an uptick in geomagnetic activity overnight on Tuesday, Aug. 12 through Wednesday, Aug. 13.
The Kp index may reach 4 during a G1 geomagnetic storm, which could result in some aurora visibility across the same broad northern states during those dates. Geomagnetic disturbances are twice as likely in spring and fall as in winter and summer, and March-April and September-October are the most geomagnetically active months of the year.
States that may have a chance to see the Northern Lights on August 12-13, 2025, include:
- Alaska
- Washington
- Oregon
- Idaho
- Montana
- Wyoming
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
- New York
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
- Maine
- Possibly parts of Iowa and northern Illinois
Exact aurora visibility depends on local weather, light pollution, and geomagnetic activity, and such forecasts have some uncertainty, especially about the precise extent on earlier dates like August 12-13. Users near these states should monitor space weather apps for real-time updates.
While the highlights mainly point to a rare geomagnetic storm boosting aurora visibility on August 19, 2025, NOAA also notes minor geomagnetic enhancement and G1-level storm chances continuing into Tuesday and Wednesday (August 12-13, 2025), which implies some aurora visibility possibility across the same broad northern states during those dates.
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