the northern lights or Aurora Borealis are one of Nature's Most stunning displays captivating those lucky enough to see them tonight several Northern US states might get another chance to witness this awe inspiring phenomenon according to an updated forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that is no OAA aerate GE magnetic storm is expected which increases the likelihood of Aurora forming in the night sky so what exactly are the Northern Lights and why might they appear tonight the Northern Lights occur when charged PE videos from the Sun collide with gases in Earth's atmosphere this Collision creates beautiful colorful light displays that dance across the sky these lights are most commonly seen in high latitude Regions near the Arctic and Antarctic circles but strong geomagnetic storms can push them further south making them visible in more populated areas tonight's forecast predicts a KP index of four which is a measurement of geomagnetic activity a higher KP index means a greater chance of seeing the northern lights and tonight's forecast suggests that the auror could be visible in parts of Washington Idaho Montana North Dakota South Dakota Minnesota Wisconsin Michigan and Maine however the closer you are to the northern border the better your chances of witnessing the display if you're hoping to catch a glimpse of the northern lights tonight timing and location are key the best viewing window is typically between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time to maximize your chances find a location away from City Lights as light poll can hinder visibility clear skies are also crucial so keep an eye on the weather forecast for your area for those interested in photographing the auroras some tips can help you capture the moment using your smartphone's night mode and adjusting the shutter speed to be slower can enhance the image additionally manual focus can help bring out the details of the lights this latest chance to see the Northern Lights comes as so activity has been on the rise in recent months the sun has been more active leading to more frequent solar flares and coronal mass ejections events that can trigger geomagnetic storms these storms are responsible for the auroras and as the solar cycle progresses we may see more opportunities to witness them if you miss the northern lights tonight don't worry the increased solar activity is expected to continue with no OA predicting the sunspots responsible for these geomagnetic storms to Peak in 2025 this means there will likely be more chances to see the Northern Lights in the coming months and years so tonight could be a special opportunity for many in the northern us to witness the breathtaking northern lights whether you're a seasoned Aurora Chaser or experiencing them for the first time make sure to find a dark Clear Spot and look to the Sky between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. you might just see Nature's Own light show in all its Glory stay subscribed for more videos