NOAA northern lights forecast: Northern lights could light up skies across the US and Canada tonight; here's when and how to watch on your smartphone

Northern lights forecast: The NOAA northern lights forecast is giving skywatchers across parts of the United States and Canada another chance to witness the northern lights, one of nature's most spectacular light shows. A minor G1 geomagnetic storm is expected to create favourable conditions for the northern lights on the night of July 21 into July 22, with visibility stretching across parts of southern Canada and several northern US states.

This northern lights forecast event is being driven by a fast-moving stream of solar wind flowing from a large coronal hole on the Sun. While it is considered a weaker storm, experts say the northern lights could still put on an impressive display under the right conditions.

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Which parts of the US and Canada could see the northern lights?

If skies stay clear, residents across much of Canada will have one of the best opportunities to see the northern lights tonight. In the United States, northern lights visibility is most likely in northern states close to the Canadian border, including:

• Washington
• Idaho
• Montana
• North Dakota
• Minnesota
• Wisconsin
• Michigan
• Maine
• Vermont
• New Hampshire

Depending on how the solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetic field, the northern lights could briefly appear a little farther south than forecast, although that is not guaranteed.

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What is the NOAA northern lights forecast for tonight?

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center, Earth is expected to experience G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm conditions as high-speed solar wind reaches the planet.

NOAA's latest northern lights forecast projects the strongest geomagnetic activity on July 22, with the planetary Kp index expected to reach 5.33, enough to push the northern lights farther south than usual. The agency says the activity is linked to the effects of a negative-polarity coronal hole high-speed stream interacting with Earth's magnetic field.

Why are the northern lights happening?

This northern lights event is not being caused by a coronal mass ejection (CME), which often produces stronger aurora displays.

Scientists said a large coronal hole on the Sun is releasing a stream of fast solar wind. When these charged particles collide with Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere, they excite oxygen and nitrogen molecules, creating the colourful green, red and purple lights known as the northern lights, or aurora borealis.

What are the best ways to see the northern lights?

Even during a minor geomagnetic storm, viewing conditions matter just as much as solar activity when trying to spot the northern lights.

To improve your chances of seeing the northern lights:

• Head to a dark location away from city lights.
• Look toward the northern horizon.
• Give your eyes at least 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness.
• Check local cloud forecasts before heading out.
• Be patient, as the northern lights can brighten and fade quickly throughout the night.

Experts also recommend monitoring NOAA's real-time northern lights forecast, as conditions can change within minutes.

Can you photograph the northern lights with a smartphone?

Yes. Modern smartphones are capable of capturing the northern lights, even when they appear faint to the naked eye.

Using Night Mode or a long-exposure setting, along with a tripod or another stable surface, can significantly improve image quality. In some cases, smartphone cameras may reveal the colours of the northern lights more clearly than the unaided eye can see.

Will there be more northern lights this summer?

NOAA's longer-range space weather outlook suggests additional periods of unsettled geomagnetic activity are possible in the coming weeks as more coronal holes rotate into positions facing Earth. However, the strength and visibility of future northern lights displays will depend on solar conditions closer to each date.