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Northern Lights Visible Across 22 U.S. States Tonight Due to Strong Geomagnetic Storm

A G3-class geomagnetic storm, driven by a coronal mass ejection, is creating rare aurora displays as far south as Oregon, Nebraska, and Indiana.

Vermont has a chance of seeing the Northern lights on Saturday, March 22.
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A geomagnetic storm will create aurora formations in the US
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Overview

  • The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts a strong G3-class geomagnetic storm tonight, with a Kp index of 7, enabling widespread aurora visibility.
  • The northern lights are expected to be visible in 22 U.S. states, including Alaska, northern border states, and regions as far south as Oregon, Nebraska, and Indiana.
  • The storm is caused by a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun, which is expected to reach Earth early on March 23, sustaining aurora activity into the weekend.
  • Visibility is enhanced by the equinox's Russell-McPherron effect, which temporarily aligns Earth's magnetic field with solar wind, increasing geomagnetic storm intensity.
  • Optimal viewing conditions include dark skies, minimal light pollution, and timing between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, with NOAA providing real-time updates via its aurora dashboard.