Northern lights could return tonight; here’s where to look
A severe G4 geomagnetic storm painted North American skies overnight, with auroras dipping as far south as Florida, Texas, Alabama and Georgia. Multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) powered the show, and forecasters say another CME could spark fresh displays tonight.
Intense storms don’t just wow sky watchers. G4 conditions can cause voltage control problems on power grids, scramble GPS signals, and disrupt radio and satellite communications, CNN reported. This burst ranked among the strongest of Solar Cycle 25, and forecasters are eyeing another G3–G4 window this evening.
Where and when to look tonight
The Space Weather Prediction Center says viewing odds are best from northern New England across the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest to the Pacific Northwest — if the new CME arrives as projected. However, CNN notes that clouds may spoil the view in the Northwest, New England, and upstate New York, while the Dakotas, northern/central Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan have the clearest skies.
How rare was last night’s display?
The storm hit G4 — at times flirting with G5, The Weather Channel reported — pushing vivid reds, greens and purples unusually deep into the continental U.S., with sightings as far south as Mexico, Space.com said. The spectacle followed back-to-back CMEs from an energetic sunspot, with a faster blast behind them that could keep conditions elevated.
How to capture it with your phone
Modern phones can handle auroras if you control light and motion, The New York Times reported. Seek dark skies, dim your screen, and turn off the flash. Use night mode or extend exposure (up to ~30 seconds on many newer phones). Steady the phone on a tripod or solid surface to avoid blur. Prefer presets? Aurora-specific camera apps can set it up for you.
If skies cooperate, the curtain may rise again tonight across the northern tier. Expect the glow to favor higher latitudes versus Tuesday’s rare southern push — and plan around clouds and the minor tech hiccups that come with strong geomagnetic storms.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
