Aurora borealis forecast: Northern lights may be visible in 13 states tonight. Here’s the best time to see them

If you missed the northern lights, or aurora borealis, over the past weekend, you’re in luck—you may have a second chance tonight, Monday, June 2, when they may be visible for a second night in a row in some U.S. states across the country.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts that the next possibility for viewing the northern lights is Monday night into early Tuesday, with the most intense activity across Canada and Alaska and the northern U.S. states.

This aurora borealis is the result of a geomagnetic storm that occurs when a coronal mass ejection (CME), an eruption of solar material, reaches Earth and causes swaths of blue, green, and purple in the sky. This year’s increased solar activity is likely the result of an 11-year sun cycle peaking through October.

Where and when will the northern lights be visible tonight?

While NOAA predicts Alaska is the best U.S. state to potentially view the aurora tonight, the agency says: “The other states that are best positioned are the northern Midwest states, from Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan,” Alex Gianninas, an astronomy professor at Connecticut College told Newsweek.

Residents of northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine may also be able to witness the light show in the night sky, Gianninas added.

The aurora borealis is best observed just after sunset or just before sunrise.

Don’t worry if you aren’t able to see the northern lights tonight—NOAA predicts activity will remain high through 2025 and 2026. You can track the aurora on NOAA’s page, where the agency is providing updates.