These Are the Twenty-Three States Where the Northern Lights Will Be Visible Tonight
It's time to get outside tonight and look up at the sky. The Northern Lights should be visible in several states. It's all due to a G3 geomagnetic storm. These storms happen when there is a strong disturbance in the Earth's magnetic field.
What are the Northern Lights?
When electrically charged particles from space enter the Earth's atmosphere and collide with molecules and gases, particles in the atmosphere gain energy. To return to their normal state, they release energy as light. That's how the northern lights are born.
All of this is what has prompted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center to issue a G3 geomagnetic storm alert for tonight, June 5, 2026. This means people in several states have a pretty good chance of seeing this natural light show.
The northern lights usually appear faint at first. They may also look pale green. During strong geomagnetic storms, they burst out with shades of neon green, pink, or purple that shoot across the night sky.
Where Can I See the Northern Lights?
While everyone may want to try to catch a glimpse, the northern lights are not visible everywhere in the U.S. According to NOAA, these are the states where you can try to see them tonight:
- Alaska
- Connecticut
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
According to NOAA, the peak times to catch a glimpse are between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. on June 5th. They say that people in Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, and Washington have the best chance of seeing the northern lights.
How to See the Northern Lights
Seeing the northern lights isn't a case of just going outside and looking up. You want to head somewhere dark with clear views of the northern skies. Don't go anywhere with city lights.
Once you find your viewing spot, give your eyes time to adjust. You might not be able to see the aurora right away. Tools like NOAA's aurora dashboard and apps like Aurora Now can be helpful in pinpointing the lights as well.
If you want to photograph the northern lights, you can try to do it with your smartphone.
Turn your phone to night mode so the shutter stays open longer. Keep it steady and don't zoom in. If your phone has a "pro" or "manual" mode, this can also be helpful. Of course, you can also use a professional camera.
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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 1:28 PM.