Watch as a vibrant aurora dances across the night sky
About 20 U.S. states caught a glimpse of the northern lights, according to NOAA.
At least a half-dozen states could see the illuminating northern lights on Tuesday night, Aug. 19, forecasters predict.
Formally known as the aurora borealis, the colorful night skies are caused by the interaction between Earth’s magnetic field and the sun’s plasma, according to the National Weather Service.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) researchers report the celestial glow should be visible through Wednesday, Aug. 20 across multiple northern states.
What states will see the northern lights tonight?
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center’s view line shows the following states might catch a glimpse of the aurora on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
- Washington
- Idaho
- Montana
- North Dakota
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
Depending on cloud cover, Michigan could see a slight chance of the aurora, the Detroit Free-Press, part of the USA TODAY Network reported.
What is the K-index?
According to the agency, NOAA is predicting a geomagnetic K-index of 3. The index, according to NOAA, indicates how far away from the poles the northern lights might be visible.
The K-index (also called Kp) stands for “Planetary Index” and is an indicator of disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field. It ranges from 0 to 9, according to NOAA, and a Kp score between 3 and 5 indicates brighter activity.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.