Northern lights forecast maps show where millions in the U.S. could see the aurora borealis this weekend

Americans as far south as Alabama and Northern California can enjoy a show Northern lights This weekend from A A strong geomagnetic storm Officials said it was heading towards Earth. If weather conditions are right, people in many areas on the map can look up and see the area Northern lights.

The storm has prompted government meteorologists to warn of possible disruptions to communications systems, the power grid and satellite operations, but it could also provide a spectacular light show in the night sky.

“The gift of space weather is the aurora borealis,” Rob Steinberg, a space scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center, told reporters Friday morning.

Map of northern lights tonight

a Map from the center It shows that the aurora borealis may be visible over much of the northern half of the United States. The red line on the map shows how far south the aurora forecast will be.

The St. Louis office of the National Weather Service said people in the area should leave the city for the best possible chance of seeing the northern lights.

“Step away from the city lights into dark rural surroundings and look north.” The Office he said on social media. “Apart from some clouds associated with a passing front, most of the time it looks mostly clear.”

The prediction center notes on its website that people don’t need to be directly under the aurora to see it. Instead, it can be observed from up to 620 miles away.

The San Francisco Bay Area Weather Service was less optimistic when asked if there was a chance of a nighttime show there.

“Maybe not, but I’ll still look up while walking my dog,” The Office He said.

Map of the northern lights for Saturday night

Friday night isn’t the only opportunity to view the northern lights. The storm was expected to continue through the end of the week, and the forecast center released a forecast map Saturday night.

Officials said that people in the southern United States who cannot see the aurora with their naked eyes can still take some dazzling photos with their phones.

“Cellphones are much better at capturing light than our eyes,” Brent Gordon of the Space Weather Prediction Center told reporters on Friday. “Just walk out your back door and take a picture with a newer cell phone, and you’ll be amazed at what you see in that picture versus what you see with your eyes.”