Overview
- NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center forecasts a G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm overnight Jan. 16–17, with the best chance of activity in the early hours of Saturday, Jan. 17.
- A 2%‑lit waning crescent moon will create unusually dark skies, increasing the odds of spotting faint displays if the storm arrives as expected.
- Potential visibility includes parts of Alaska and the northern tier of the U.S., with the viewline touching Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
- The disturbance is linked to a coronal mass ejection from a Jan. 14 M1.6 solar flare, and a fast solar‑wind stream could boost conditions, with NOAA noting a chance the storm reaches G2 (moderate).
- Forecast confidence remains uncertain, so observers should avoid light pollution, watch the northern horizon, and monitor NOAA’s 30‑minute aurora forecast or apps such as SpaceWeatherLive and My Aurora Forecast; modern smartphones can capture displays using Night/Pro modes and stable support.