Des Moines, Iowa – A rare G4 (Severe) geomagnetic storm is creating favorable conditions for Northern Lights to be visible tonight across parts of the Midwest, including areas stretching from Ohio westward through Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and into eastern Nebraska, according to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center.
NOAA’s latest aurora forecast shows the auroral oval expanding significantly southward, placing large portions of the Midwest within range of possible aurora visibility. Forecast models indicate a Kp index near 8, a level that historically allows auroras to be seen far beyond their typical northern range.
The aurora is being driven by a coronal mass ejection from the Sun that is currently interacting with Earth’s magnetic field. When charged solar particles collide with gases high in the atmosphere, they produce shimmering bands of green, red, and purple light known as the Northern Lights.
For observers in northern Iowa, northern Illinois, northern Indiana, southern Wisconsin, and southern Michigan, auroras may become visible overhead or high in the sky if storm conditions intensify. Farther south, including Ohio and eastern Nebraska, the lights are more likely to appear as a faint green or reddish glow low on the northern horizon.
The best viewing window is expected late tonight through the early morning hours, generally between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., weather and cloud cover permitting. NOAA recommends finding a dark location away from city lights, with a clear view toward the north.
Auroras themselves are harmless to people on the ground, though the same geomagnetic storm is prompting increased monitoring of power grids, satellites, and GPS systems.
Auroral visibility may fluctuate rapidly overnight as geomagnetic conditions change.
