Indianapolis, IN – Indiana residents may have a rare opportunity to glimpse the Northern Lights late Thursday night into early Friday, January 8–9, as heightened solar activity pushes auroras farther south than usual.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a G1-level geomagnetic storm is expected to peak overnight. The storm is being driven by enhanced solar wind associated with a coronal mass ejection (CME) and a co-rotating interaction region (CIR)—solar disturbances that can expand aurora visibility into lower latitudes.
In Indiana, auroras are expected to be faint and low on the northern horizon, making viewing conditions challenging. The best chances will be in northern and rural parts of the state, particularly near Lake Michigan and across LaPorte, Starke, Pulaski, Marshall, and Kosciusko counties, where light pollution is lower and northern views are more open.
Residents in South Bend, Elkhart, Fort Wayne, and Lafayette may still spot a subtle glow if skies remain clear, though city lights may reduce visibility. Viewing will be more difficult in Indianapolis, Bloomington, and Evansville, but faint auroras are still possible under ideal conditions.
Cloud cover remains the biggest obstacle. Even strong geomagnetic storms cannot be seen through clouds, making clear skies essential. Aurora watchers are encouraged to monitor local weather forecasts alongside NOAA space weather updates overnight.
For most Indiana viewers, the aurora may appear as a dim arc or pale glow rather than bright colors. Cameras and smartphones using Night Mode or long-exposure settings often capture greens not easily visible to the naked eye.
If skies cooperate, this could mark Indiana’s first potential aurora sighting of 2026.
