Northern lights could return to the northern horizon of parts of the U.S. and Canada overnight on Monday, Oct. 5, and Tuesday, Oct. 6, with a fast solar wind forecast to trigger G1-class geomagnetic storm conditions. It comes after aurora was seen at the weekend .

If aurora reaches the northern U.S., a smartphone camera may detect faint colors that are difficult to see with the naked eye — most likely low on the northern horizon.

The viewing season in the Northern Hemisphere runs from September to March, when nights are long and darkest, with stronger displays often occurring after the equinoxes in those months.

Northern Lights Forecast For Monday, Oct. 4

According to NOAA , there’s “Active to G1 (Minor) storm levels are expected on 05 Oct due to continued influence of a positive polarity coronal hole high-speed stream.” That refers to a stream of fast-moving solar wind flowing from open magnetic field regions on the sun. “Unsettled to active levels are then expected on 06-07 Oct as +CH HSS influence wanes,” said NOAA.

According to the UK Met Office , fast solar winds will persist on Oct. 5. “Active to G1 Minor Storms at first, will ease to Quiet to Unsettled with a chance of Active intervals by day 2 (06 Oct)," the agency stated.

Where Will The Northern Lights Be Visible In The U.S. And Canada?

With the moon currently rising well after midnight, conditions are good for observing aurora overnight on Monday, Oct. 5, and Tuesday, Oct. 6. However, cloud cover and light pollution will both mask any aurora.

If G1 conditions develop as forecast, those in Alaska and northern states in the contiguous U.S. (Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire) may see or be able to photograph aurora, particularly from dark locations near the Canadian border.

Cosmik has live aurora odds for all U.S. states and 552 cities, updated from NOAA’s data, so you can check whether your location may see aurora.

How To See The Northern Lights In The U.S. And Canada

A G1 forecast does not guarantee the northern lights will appear from any particular location, and apps such as Aurora Now, My Aurora Forecast or Glendale Aurora should be used for up-to-the-minute alerts and live solar wind data. The orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field — measured as Bz — will matter once the CME reaches Earth.

A sustained southward Bz can favor stronger coupling between the solar wind and Earth’s magnetic field, increasing the potential for auroral activity to be seen farther south than expected. If Bz remains northward, however, the resulting display may be weak or restricted to higher latitudes.

The sun has an 11-year cycle during which its magnetic activity waxes and wanes. It’s now waning from its solar maximum in late 2024, but the two years after are known for frequent auroral displays.

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.