Spokane, Washington – A rare northern lights display could light up parts of Washington within hours as a solar storm reaches peak intensity late Sunday night.
According to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, a G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm will strengthen between 9 p.m. Sunday and 2 a.m. Monday, pushing aurora visibility into the northern tier of the U.S. The event is driven by lingering solar eruption energy combined with a fast-moving solar wind stream.
The best viewing conditions will be across eastern Washington, including Spokane, the Tri-Cities, and areas near the Canadian border, where darker skies improve visibility. In western Washington, including Seattle and Everett, visibility is less certain due to both latitude and cloud cover, though brief breaks could allow faint aurora to appear low on the northern horizon.
Drivers along I-90 across eastern Washington may notice brighter skies overnight, though no travel impacts are expected. For the best viewing experience, residents should head to dark, open areas and look north, allowing time for their eyes to adjust.
Cloud cover will be the biggest limiting factor west of the Cascades, while clearer skies east improve chances. Elevated geomagnetic activity may continue into early Monday, with additional updates possible if storm strength increases.
