Geomagnetic Storm Expected to Illuminate Northern Lights Over Parts of U.S. This Weekend

A minor geomagnetic storm, driven by a massive coronal hole on the sun, may bring the aurora borealis to states as far south as Michigan and Maine.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecast a minor geomagnetic storm (G1) for Friday, Jan. 31, and Saturday, Feb. 1, potentially intensifying northern lights displays.
The auroras are fueled by a 500,000-mile-wide coronal hole on the sun, releasing solar wind at over 310 miles per second toward Earth.
Northern states in the U.S., including Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine, may have a chance to spot the aurora if skies are clear.
The best viewing times are between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. local time, with visibility dependent on weather conditions and avoiding light pollution.
This auroral activity coincides with the sun’s solar maximum phase, a peak in its 11-year cycle, which is expected to sustain increased solar activity throughout 2025.