A vivid Aurora Borealis display reflected in the Glendo Reservoir in Glendo State Park, Wyoming. The Northern Lights may be visible on camera — and possibly to the naked eye — across 12 northern U.S. states and Canada overnight on Saturday, Oct. 11 through Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025.
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The Northern Lights may be visible on camera — and possibly to the naked eye — across 12 northern U.S. states and Canada overnight on Saturday, Oct. 11 through Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, according to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). The forecast includes a G1- geomagnetic storm that could make the aurora borealis visible in the northern sky from as many as 12 U.S. states, with the early hours of Sunday, Oct. 12 most likely to see displays.
The forecast comes at same time as two comets are visible and the minor Delta Aurigid meteor shower peaks.
Solar activity is currently near a 23-year high due to the ongoing solar maximum — the most active phase of the sun’s 11-year cycle, when sunspots and coronal mass ejections are most frequent. It’s expected to mean the Northern Lights will be frequently observable from northern U.S. states through 2026.
Northern Lights Forecast: What To Expect
The latest forecast calls for a G1-rated geomagnetic storm early on Sunday, Oct. 12., which could push the auroral oval farther south than usual — making this an alert worth watching.
“Active conditions are expected by late on 11 Oct,
with G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm levels likely on 12 Oct,” states NOAA. The culprit is “negative polarity CH HSS influences,” according to NOAA, which means a high-speed stream of solar wind coming from a coronal hole on the sun — an open region in our star’s magnetic field where solar wind escapes more easily.
According to Spaceweather.com, the coronal hole is “venting a stream of solar wind directly toward Earth” and that the odds of a geomagnetic storm are increased by equinox in late-September, which links the magnetic fields of the sun and Earth for a few weeks.
NOAA’s aurora viewline prediction for Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025.
NOAA
Northern Lights Forecast: Where And When
NOAA’s latest aurora viewlines indicate that aurora displays are a possibility in northern U.S. states and Canada, with 12 U.S. states having a chance overnight on Saturday, Oct. 11 through Sunday, Oct. 12.
U.S. states that may see aurora include Alaska and (northerly parts of) Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York and Maine.
Dark northern skies away from urban light pollution are likely to offer the best views.
Northern Lights Forecast: How To Photograph Aurora
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:
- Use your main lens, not the ultra-wide, for sharper results.
- Stabilize the camera using a tripod or rest it on a firm surface such as a car roof, wall, or post.
- Shoot in RAW format if available, as it allows easier post-editing.
- 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.
The black area is a coronal hole in this image of the sun taken on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, by NASA’s Solar Dynamic Observatory.
NASA SDO
Northern Lights Forecast: Latest Updates And Auroral Substorms
All forecasts for the aurora must be treated with caution. To check visibility in real time, use NOAA’s 30-minute aurora forecast, or download apps such as Aurora Now, My Aurora Forecast or Glendale Aurora for up-to-the-minute alerts and live solar wind data.
Aurora-chasers frequently use the Kp index to predict the intensity of a geomagnetic storm, but for aurora displays, the interplanetary magnetic field’s Bz component is more important (you’ll find it in some of the above apps and on SpaceWeatherLive.com).
Bz determines how easily solar energy enters Earth’s magnetosphere. When Bz points north, Earth’s field resists it; when Bz swings south, the two fields connect, allowing plasma to stream in. A sustained southward Bz of −5 nT or stronger usually signals an imminent display of aurora.
Northern Lights: Avoiding Light Pollution
Urban glow is the aurora’s worst enemy. To escape it, drive 30–60 minutes from city centers or use light-pollution maps to locate darker skies. Even a modest reduction in brightness can reveal auroral structure invisible under urban haze. A handy way to locate a dark place is the Dark Sky Place Finder and a light pollution map.
Shield stray car lights and avoid using bright flashlights once you arrive. Red headlamps preserve night vision and courtesy to others. Dark-sky parks and lakeshores north of cities often make excellent viewing spots. The rule is simple: the darker the northern sky, the more vibrant the display — even during moderate geomagnetic storms.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
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