Northern Lights may be visible in parts of 15 U.S. states Friday and Saturday

NOAA forecasts a G1-level geomagnetic storm overnight Jan. 16–17 that could bring auroras to parts of 15 northern U.S. states, with a chance of stronger activity extending visibility farther south; the near-new moon on Jan. 17 will create darker skies that may make faint displays easier to see.

NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center forecasts heightened geomagnetic activity overnight Friday, Jan. 16, into Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. The event follows a coronal mass ejection tied to an M1.6 solar flare and a fast solar wind stream expected from a coronal hole. The forecast calls for G1-level (Minor) storming with a chance of G2 (Moderate) activity, which could produce visible auroras in northern U.S. regions. Exact timing and reach depend on the speed and arrival of the solar wind. Reported details: - NOAA expects unsettled to G1 geomagnetic storming for Jan. 16–17, with a chance for G2-level activity noted in the agency's discussion. - The disturbance traces to a coronal mass ejection after an M1.6 solar flare on Jan. 14 and a fast solar wind stream from a coronal hole expected to reach Earth early on Jan. 17. - The forecast lists up to 15 U.S. states where aurora could appear, with higher-latitude states most likely (including Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine). - A G1 storm could produce auroras in northern parts of Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota and northern Michigan, while G2 conditions could make them visible as far south as Wisconsin, Washington, Idaho and possibly into Iowa or northern Illinois, according to the report. - NOAA notes the waning crescent moon will be near new on Jan. 18, creating dark-sky conditions in the early hours of Jan. 17 that may allow faint auroras to be seen low on the northern horizon. - The article reports that modern smartphones can capture auroras and references short-term forecast tools such as NOAA's 30-minute aurora forecast and SpaceWeatherLive for live solar wind data. Summary: NOAA's forecast indicates elevated chances for auroras across northern U.S. states overnight Jan. 16–17 due to a coronal mass ejection and a fast solar wind stream, with higher-latitude states having the strongest odds. Forecast updates are expected as solar wind speed and timing become clearer, and short-term aurora forecasts will provide revised conditions as they are available.