Northern U.S. States Might Get a Glimpse of the Aurora Borealis Tonight

Residents of states on the U.S.-Canada border may catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights over the night of July 23 and 24, according to Travel + Leisure. If you live in states like Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Wisconsin, or North Dakota, be prepared to peek outside and look up tonight.

The Earth is set to experience a minor geomagnetic storm (a G1 on a scale of G1 to G5) in the early hours of July 24. The event is the result of solar mass being ejected from a coronal hole in the Sun’s atmosphere, according to spaceweather.com.

While we associate the Northern Lights with places like Alaska, Iceland, and Norway, the phenomenon is periodically visible as far south as the states closest to the U.S.-Canada border, depending on solar weather. Typically, the best time for viewing the aurora borealis is during winter, since the nights are longer and the sky is darker for more hours than in summer. Tonight's event could be a rare summertime treat.

You can use the Space Weather Prediction Center’s 30-minute forecast to get a better idea if the aurora is visible near you as the evening goes on. If you can’t catch them this week, consider booking a cruise with the Astronomy Voyage in Norway—if you don’t see the aurora borealis on your trip, they’ll give you a free cruise the next year to make sure you catch a glimpse.