The Northern Lights Can Be Seen in the Continental US This Week. Here’s What To Expect.

You have to travel far north to see the Northern Lights. People as far south as Colorado might be able to see the Aurora from March 31 to April 1 due to an unusual geomagnetic storm.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute puts the chances of seeing the Aurora borealis at zero to nine, with zero being no chance and nine being a high chance. On the morning of March 31, the Kp index hit a seven and people in Colorado saw the lights.

The Space Weather Prediction Center has a scale that goes from one to five. According to the Washington Post, the lights could get as high as a three by Saturday morning.

The states with the highest likelihood of seeing the Northern Lights are listed below.

States where you can see the Northern Lights on March 31 and April 1 and 2

• Maine
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Montana
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Washington
• Wisconsin

States where you might see the Northern Lights on March 31 and April 1 and 2

• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Nebraska
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Wyoming

The final strength of these states is dependent on the estimates.

The colors come from the sun hitting the Earth's magnetic field. Oxygen and nitrogen make green and red gasses in the atmosphere.

The key word when it comes to the Northern Lights is unpredictable. Being in a spot with low light pollution always helps, and the Northern Light Aurora Forecast can help you gauge the timing.

Over the next couple of years, keep an eye out for more opportunities. The peak of our sun's active solar cycle will be in about 25 years.

On the morning of March 31, people spotted what is to come.

I literally can’t believe this happened tonight. 8 meteorology students, 3 mechanical engineering students, 2 journalists, and 1 meteorologist all watching the northern lights together. This went way better than imagined. So, so happy. #sdwx #Aurora @sdsmt #NorthernLights pic.twitter.com/2SKkEhyqKu

— Lexy Elizalde (@JadeoradeWx) March 31, 2022

Short time lapse of last nights March 30th #Aurora #Saskatchewan #Canada near Laporte Sk pic.twitter.com/lTs5GcwH4N

— Jenny Hagan LostInSk (@LostInSk) March 31, 2022

Aurora over devil's tower in WY from last night! Look at the reds!! It was incredible! #aurora #NorthernLights#wyoming #spaceweather@TamithaSkov @spacewxwatch @SPACEdotcom pic.twitter.com/E0UAdo1BEe

— MaryBeth Kiczenski (@MKiczenski) March 31, 2022

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