If you live near the 40th parallel (think New York, Chicago, or London), you need a Kp of 6 or higher for a decent display on the horizon. That’s rare but happens a few times a year during solar maximum. If you live in northern Canada, Scandinavia, or Alaska, a Kp of 3 is a guarantee of pillar-like lights overhead.
Thursday Northern Lights Forecast: 10 States May See The Aurora
Forget the hustle. Check your app at sunset. If Kp is 5 or above and the sky is clear, grab your coat and go. You have a window of about two hours after local midnight for the peak activity. Set an alarm, don’t hit snooze.
A Fun Little Fact
The aurora has been recorded as far south as Mexico City and the Caribbean during historic solar storms in 1859 and 1921. So yes, while tonight’s forecast might be a bust for you in Florida, remember: it’s not impossible. The sun is having a particularly chatty season right now during Solar Cycle 25.
Also, the color spectrum is a mood ring for altitude. Green is from oxygen at 60 miles up. Red is from oxygen at 200 miles up (very rare). Purple and blue come from nitrogen, and they mean the storm is intense and high-energy. If you see purple, take a photo. It’s a win.
