A Solar Storm Could Make the Northern Lights Visible Over Parts of the U.S. Tonight

You don't need to take a trip above the Arctic Circle to see the Northern Lights in person. If you live in the northern U.S., you may be able to witness the meteorological phenomenon tonight from your backyard. As Madison, Wisconsin's WKOW reports, a geomagnetic storm could make the aurora borealis visible over the states bordering Canada late Monday night and early Tuesday morning.

Auroras are the result of electrons carried by solar winds reacting to gases in the Earth's atmosphere. Our planet's magnetic field amplifies this effect, which is why the colorful light show typically occurs over the two poles where magnetic energy is most concentrated.

On some occasions, the magnetic field is disrupted in such a way that makes the Northern Lights visible at lower latitudes. That may be the case tonight when a solar storm temporarily alters the magnetic field over the upper contiguous states, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center.

To catch the rare spectacle, step outside sometime late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. Areas with clear northern horizons and minimal light pollution will be the best spots to scope out the lights. And clear skies are forecast for states like Wisconsin tonight, making your chances of seeing them even better.

The Northern Lights are unpredictable, but there's a whole industry built around helping tourists spot them. If you pay $1970 for this cruise, for example, you're guaranteed to see the lights or your next trip is free. Keep that in mind if you miss them this time around.

[h/t WKOW]