Columbus, OH – Ohioans may have a rare opportunity to spot the Northern Lights late Thursday night into early Friday, January 8–9, as increased 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 activity is being driven by enhanced solar wind linked to a coronal mass ejection (CME) and a co-rotating interaction region (CIR)—solar disturbances that can expand auroral visibility into lower latitudes.
In Ohio, 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 areas, particularly near Lake Erie and in parts of northwest and north-central Ohio, including Toledo-area rural zones, Sandusky County, Ottawa County, and the Lake Erie shoreline. Open fields and lakeshore locations with unobstructed northern views will improve visibility.
Residents in Cleveland, Toledo, Akron, and Youngstown may still catch a subtle glow if skies remain clear, though city lights can significantly reduce visibility. Viewing will be more difficult in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton, but faint auroras are still possible under ideal conditions.
Cloud cover will be 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 along with NOAA space weather alerts throughout the night.
For many Ohio viewers, the aurora may appear as a pale arc or dim glow rather than vivid colors. Cameras and smartphones using Night Mode or long-exposure settings often reveal greens not easily visible to the naked eye.
If conditions align, this could be Ohio’s first potential aurora sighting of 2026.
