Northern lights forecast to reach Washington tonight
Sep 2, 2025, 1:22 PM
Aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights is seen on May 11, 2024 in Manning Park, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo: Andrew Chin, Getty Images)
(Photo: Andrew Chin, Getty Images)
The northern lights are forecast to be visible in Washington Tuesday night.
Those who live in northern Washington have the best chance of seeing the aurora borealis.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) map shows the view line passing through Washington, with green highlighted halfway down the state.
A map of the aurora borealis on September 2, 2205. (Image courtesy of NOAA)
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How are northern lights formed?
“The aurora is formed from interactions between the solar wind streaming out from the sun and Earth’s protective magnetic field, or magnetosphere,” NOAA stated on its website.
Although there is a lower likelihood of seeing the aurora in Washington, the best opportunity to view the northern lights is away from the city in a dark environment.
The aurora is most visible between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., according to NOAA.
If you see the northern lights, take a picture and share it with us on MyNorthwest’s photo page.
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