### Northern Lights Forecast to Dip South Over Thanksgiving Due to Geomagnetic Storms

This Thanksgiving, stargazers in some parts of the United States might catch an unexpected glimpse of the northern lights, thanks to a series of geomagnetic storms. According to a forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), auroral activity is expected to extend further south than usual.

On Tuesday, mild auroral activity is anticipated, with the view line indicating minimal opportunities to see the northern lights just below the Canadian border. Regions in Alaska and northern Canada also have a low likelihood of witnessing the aurora borealis. Some parts of northern Montana, North Dakota, and northern Wisconsin are in the low chance category, while areas such as northeastern Oregon, northern Idaho, northeastern South Dakota, and upper Michigan have an even slimmer chance.

The view line is predicted to extend further south by Thursday, increasing the chances of aurora borealis sightings across northern Canada and Alaska. States along the Canadian border, including Washington, Montana, North Dakota, and parts of northern Idaho, South Dakota, and upper Michigan, will have a low likelihood of seeing the northern lights. Even lesser chances are expected for some parts of Wyoming, Iowa, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.

NOAA suggests that those keen to observe the phenomenon should head to high vantage points away from light pollution, as the northern lights are typically visible between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time. For those aiming to capture the event on camera, settings should include the farthest focus, a wide aperture, and a high ISO value. Smartphone users are advised by Iceland's tourism website to enable night mode with a wide aperture for better results.

This increased auroral activity can be attributed to reaching a "solar maximum," a period of heightened solar surface activity, expected to continue through 2025 and into early 2026, noted by NASA. The mesmerizing lights are produced by bursts of magnetic energy from the sun interacting with Earth's atmosphere. This process, known as magnetic reconnection, causes the vibrant displays often seen on dark, clear nights. The current solar cycle, which began in 2019, has already surpassed experts' predictions, with auroral visibility at its most intense earlier this year. In fact, May witnessed perhaps the strongest auroras in 500 years.