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A NOAA forecast suggest that northern lights might potentially be visible in northern U.S. states on Jan. 27. Here’s where aurora displays are possible. (Photo by SASCHA SCHUERMANN / AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Barely a week after the northern lights were seen across the world during a rare severe G4 geomagnetic storm, aurora may once again be glimpsed, this time from 11 U.S. states down to mid-latitudes overnight on Tuesday, Jan. 27,through Wednesday,Jan. 28, according to a forecast by the national Oceanic and Atmospheric Management’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
The forecast is for a minor G1 geomagnetic storm, the first level on NOAA’s five-level Space Weather Scale, as a turbulent solar wind interacts with Earth’s magnetic field.
Northern Lights Alert: Where And When To Look
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Solar Maximum and Aurora Forecast (as of January 27, 2026)
The Sun’s 25th solar cycle is predicted to continue exhibiting heightened activity through 2026, increasing the likelihood of frequent and intense auroral displays.
While the peak of Solar cycle 25 was initially predicted for early 2024, updated forecasts from the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) indicate that the cycle is more active than anticipated and will remain elevated well into 2026. This extended period of high activity means increased opportunities to observe the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) and aurora australis (Southern Lights).
A significant geomagnetic storm, classified as G5 (Extreme), impacted Earth on May 10-11, 2024, marking the most intense event since 2003. NOAA’s SWPC reported widespread impacts to radio communications and satellite operations during this event, and breathtaking auroral displays were observed at unusually low latitudes.
What Causes Auroras?
Auroras are natural light displays in the sky, predominantly seen in the high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic), caused by disturbances in the magnetosphere.
These disturbances stem from interactions between the Earth’s magnetic field and charged particles emitted by the Sun, known as the solar wind.When the solar wind reaches Earth, some of these particles are funneled down magnetic field lines towards the poles. as these particles collide with atoms and molecules in the Earth’s upper atmosphere (primarily oxygen and nitrogen), they excite these atoms to higher energy states. When the atoms return to their normal state, they release energy in the form of light, creating the vibrant colors of the aurora.
For example, green light is produced by oxygen at lower altitudes, while red light comes from oxygen at higher altitudes. Nitrogen produces blue and purple colors. The NASA’s Sun-Earth Connection website provides detailed explanations and visualizations of this process.
Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC)
The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is the official source of space weather alerts and forecasts for the United States.
SWPC monitors the Sun and it’s activity, including solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are the primary drivers of geomagnetic storms. They issue alerts and warnings to various sectors, including power grid operators, satellite operators, and airlines, to mitigate potential disruptions caused by space weather events. SWPC uses a geomagnetic storm scale ranging from G1 (Minor) to G5 (Extreme) to categorize the severity of geomagnetic disturbances.
On January 25, 2026, SWPC issued a moderate geomagnetic storm watch, anticipating auroral activity visible in the northern United States. Details of this watch are available on the SWPC website.
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