The northern lights could be visible in up to nine U.S. states Friday night, according to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The agency said mild auroral activity is expected, giving some skywatchers a chance to spot the aurora borealis.
NOAA’s outlook suggests the display may be limited but still possible across parts of the northern United States. For people tracking the northern lights forecast tonight, the key takeaway is that conditions are favorable enough for a possible appearance in a small group of states.
The forecast also points to stronger auroral activity on Saturday. That means viewers who miss Friday’s display, or who are outside the best viewing area, may want to keep an eye on the next night’s outlook as conditions are expected to improve.
Aurora visibility can change quickly based on space weather and local viewing conditions, so any sighting depends on how the activity develops overnight. Even with only mild activity in the forecast Friday, NOAA’s update has put northern lights watchers on alert for a possible weekend showing.
