Just found out there was supposed to be a pretty solid aurora display visible across a bunch of US states this past weekend. NOAA was predicting a minor geomagnetic storm that could light up the sky in places you wouldn't normally expect to see the northern lights.

So which states can see the northern lights during these events? Alaska obviously has the best shot, but apparently the view line extended way further south than usual - like all the way through Montana, Idaho, Washington, and then across to the Midwest and Northeast. We're talking 24 states potentially having a chance to catch it. Some people in places like Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, and even down to places like New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts could have seen it if they knew where to look.

The Kp index was supposed to hit around 4.67, which means the lights would've been pretty bright and actually worth the effort to go see. NOAA recommended heading north if possible, getting to higher ground, and avoiding city lights. Best viewing window was supposed to be between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time.

Pretty wild that we're still getting these intense aurora displays. The sun's been in overdrive lately with solar activity peaking way higher than scientists expected. Apparently this was happening throughout 2024 and into 2025 - even saw reports of northern lights visible from Texas and Florida at some point, which is crazy. Anyway, if you missed this one, might be worth checking the forecasts during the next solar cycle to see which states can see the northern lights again.