Northern Lights Forecast: Best Times & Places to Catch Tonight’s Spectacular Aurora

A powerful, Earth-directed coronal mass ejection launched from sunspot AR 4199 on 30 Aug. is forecast to strike Earth late 1 Sept.–early 2 Sept., prompting NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) to issue a G2-to-G3 geomagnetic storm watch for Labor Day weekend. What that means for skywatchers is an elevated KP index—peaking around KP 6–7 between 02:00 and 05:00 EDT on Tuesday, 2 Sept.—that could push the aurora borealis well south of its usual haunts. Based on the latest aurora visibility map, the northern lights forecast currently favors parts or all of these 18 U.S. states: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North & South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Key timing • Impact window: 22:00 EDT Sun 1 Sept.–05:00 EDT Mon 2 Sept. • Best viewing: local midnight–02:00, but activity can surge at any time once KP ≥ 5. • Extended chance: minor storming may linger through night of 2–3 Sept. Viewing tips 1. Use an aurora app or NOAA’s 30-minute Ovation model to watch real-time KP updates. 2. Escape light pollution; a north-facing shoreline, rural park or hilltop maximizes horizon view. 3. Pack a tripod and shoot 5- to 15-second exposures at ISO 800-3200 to reveal faint color. 4. Let your eyes adjust 15 minutes; faint grey arcs often brighten suddenly. Why the lights could pop The incoming CME may be a “cannibal” event in which a faster eruption overtakes an earlier one, compressing the magnetic field and intensifying auroral power. If southward-pointing Bz conditions persist, a vivid curtain of green, pink and even red could stretch as far south as Illinois and New York. Potential impacts • HF radio fadeouts at high latitudes • Minor power-grid fluctuations at mid-latitudes • GPS accuracy degradation during peak storm intervals Bottom line A rare long-weekend geomagnetic storm watch lines up perfectly with new-moon-dark skies, giving millions across the northern tier—and possibly the Midwest—an excellent chance to witness the aurora. Check the northern lights forecast hourly, head to dark skies, and keep cameras ready: this Labor Day could deliver one of 2025’s most memorable aurora displays.