Northern lights could be visible across northern US states on Thursday night

A moderate geomagnetic storm is heading for Earth, bringing a strong chance of seeing the northern lights across several northern US states on Thursday night and Friday morning.

The celestial display was triggered by a solar flare on Tuesday, 6 October. It erupted from an active sunspot region known as 4549, releasing a coronal mass ejection — a massive bubble of magnetic field and plasma — directly toward Earth. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center, this plasma cloud is on track for a direct collision with our atmosphere.

When will the northern lights be visible?

While the peak of the storm's impact is expected between 4:00 am and 7:00 am CDT on Friday, minor storming is forecast to start as early as 10:00 pm CDT on Thursday.

The Space Weather Prediction Center noted that the planetary K-index, which measures geomagnetic activity, is forecast to hit 5. This makes the late hours of Thursday night through to the early hours of Friday morning the most promising window for skywatchers.

Where can you see the aurora tonight?

Under these conditions, the aurora borealis could be visible much further south than usual. Alerts from the Space Weather Prediction Center suggest the colourful display might be seen in states stretching from Washington to Wisconsin and across to New York.

Unsettled space weather is likely to continue through the weekend. The UK Met Office reported that a second, smaller coronal mass ejection is also heading toward Earth, though it is only expected to deliver a glancing blow. However, there remains a slight chance of a stronger storm peaking later in the weekend.

Beyond creating spectacular light shows, geomagnetic storms can interfere with technology. NOAA warned that this storm could cause minor power grid fluctuations, trigger voltage alarms in high-latitude systems, and create slight satellite orientation issues. High-frequency radio signals might also fade near the poles.

Tips for viewing and photography

To get the best view of the lights, skywatchers should seek out high vantage points with minimal light pollution. A clear, unobstructed view of the northern horizon is essential, as the lights can sometimes be spotted on the horizon from up to 600 miles further north.

For those hoping to capture the moment on a mobile phone, stability is key because the camera needs a long exposure to pull in the faint light. Resting the phone against a solid surface or using a tripod is recommended. Camera settings can be adjusted manually, with recommended ISO settings between 800 and 1600. Experts also advise avoiding optical zoom, which cuts down the amount of light reaching the camera sensor.