Spokane, WA – Skywatchers across the Pacific Northwest could get another stunning look at the Northern Lights tonight, as a powerful solar storm continues to drive auroral activity deep into the continental U.S. The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center says the ongoing G3–G4-level geomagnetic storm remains active, keeping the Aurora Borealis visible across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and western Montana.
According to the National Weather Service in Spokane, skies will stay mostly clear this evening, particularly across eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and western Montana, before cloud cover increases overnight. The best time to look will be between 7 p.m. and midnight, facing north and away from bright city lights.
Residents in Bellingham, Coeur d’Alene, Missoula, and Helena will have the strongest chances of seeing the lights, though even Seattle and Portland may catch faint color bands along the northern horizon if clouds stay thin.
Temperatures tonight will dip into the 30s and 40s, with calm conditions expected through Thursday. Rain and increasing clouds will return late this week as a Pacific storm moves ashore.
If skies hold clear, tonight may bring the last Northern Lights viewing opportunity of the week for the Pacific Northwest — a rare and breathtaking sight at these latitudes.
