Aurora borealis, no passport required!
The Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, are one of the seven greatest natural wonders of the world, captivating the skies across the world’s most northern Arctic tundra. But, on the off chance you’re waiting for your passport to get renewed, want to explore the natural beauty of America, or legally cannot leave the country pending trial (hey, we don’t judge), where can you see the Northern Lights in the USA?
To start, the Northern Lights are a colorful phenomenon that occurs when charged particles from the sun, called the solar wind, are strongly pulled in by Earth’s magnetic field towards the North and South Poles. That said, you can only see the Northern Lights in specific locations, at specific times of the year, and at even more specific weather conditions. But with the right planning and a little luck, you can also spot these dancing paint strokes in the sky.
To get you started on the right foot, here are the top 9 places to see the Northern Lights in the USA, no passport needed.
WHEN CAN YOU MOST LIKELY SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN THE USA? Technically, the Aurora Borealis happens year-round, but in general, you are most likely to see the Northern Lights in the USA late at night (10 pm-3 am) during the colder months between October and March when nights are longer, however, the highest probability to see them would depend on that location’s weather during particular months. It also depends on the planetary K-index or the scale which characterizes the magnitude of geomagnetic storms on a scale from 0 to 9. The higher the number, the more dramatic the Aurora Borealis. In general, you’ll be looking for a KP of 4 or higher to see the Northern Lights in the USA. Some cities have their own Aurora tracker, but if they don’t or to get a general idea of where the Northern Lights are concentrated for a particular day, check the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Aurora forecast, which updates every 30 minutes.
"The Best Places to Visit and 'Visibly' See the Northern Lights" -- as opposed to what other way of seeing them?