Seattle, Wash. – A rare Northern Lights display could shimmer over Washington skies late Monday into Tuesday morning, offering a spectacular start to meteorological fall. Drivers and late-night stargazers should use caution on I-5 and local highways, where distraction and fog pockets may reduce visibility.
According to the National Weather Service in Seattle and NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, a strong solar storm triggered by a coronal mass ejection is expected to peak overnight. This could push aurora activity into unusual latitudes, stretching from New England to the Pacific Northwest. For Seattle, clearer skies after midnight may offer a chance to spot green and purple ribbons dancing across the horizon.
Conditions turn calmer by Tuesday afternoon, when sunshine and highs near 80 degrees return. Light north winds will keep the air comfortable, giving residents a welcome break from recent overcast mornings. Wednesday and Thursday also stay mostly sunny, with highs in the lower 80s, before temperatures ease slightly into the weekend.
Officials recommend staying off dark rural roads late tonight if unnecessary and remind residents to give full attention to driving. Stargazers should find darker areas outside the city for the best chance to catch the aurora.
The Northern Lights opportunity fades by Tuesday morning, but skies remain clear much of the week. More updates will be issued if additional solar activity develops.
Five-Day Forecast for Seattle, Washington
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, high near 80.
- Wednesday: Sunny, high near 82.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, high near 81.
- Friday: Partly sunny, high near 70.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, high near 72.
