MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA — A geomagnetic storm is possible tonight Thursday June 4, 2026, creating a rare and exciting opportunity for Northern Lights visibility across a large portion of the northern United States and Canada, with aurora potentially visible as far south as Kansas with a camera according to Max Velocity Weather aurora forecast graphics issued for tonight.
Geomagnetic Storm Tonight Creating Rare Northern Lights Viewing Opportunity
A geomagnetic storm developing tonight is driving the potential for aurora borealis visibility well south of its typical range across the northern United States. The Max Velocity Weather aurora forecast map for tonight shows two distinct viewing zones across the continental US. The magenta overhead aurora zone covers the northern tier of the United States from the Pacific Northwest through the northern Rockies, northern Plains, upper Midwest, and into the northeastern states, where overhead aurora displays may be directly visible to the naked eye under clear skies. A broader green north aurora glow zone extends the viewing potential southward through the central United States across Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
Camera View Line Reaching as Far South as Kansas Tonight
The camera view line on the Max Velocity aurora forecast map extends southward through Kansas, Missouri, and into the mid-Atlantic states, indicating that long-exposure camera photography may be able to capture aurora glow on the northern horizon as far south as Kansas tonight. Residents across Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, and surrounding states who may not see the aurora with the naked eye are encouraged to point a camera northward with a long exposure setting to potentially capture the geomagnetic storm display.
Cloud Cover from Northern Plains Storms May Disrupt Viewing for Some
An important caveat for tonight’s aurora viewing opportunity is the active severe thunderstorm setup across the Northern Plains and Midwest. Severe storms tracking through the region tonight will increase cloud cover significantly across portions of the Dakotas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, and surrounding states, potentially blocking aurora viewing for residents in those areas. Locations with clearer skies to the south and west of the storm track will have the best viewing conditions for tonight’s geomagnetic storm display.
Residents Across Northern and Central US Should Look North After Dark Tonight
With overhead aurora possible across the northern states and camera-detectable aurora glow potentially reaching as far south as Kansas, tonight represents a rare viewing opportunity for millions of residents across the northern and central United States. Residents are encouraged to seek official information from the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center and monitor updated geomagnetic storm forecasts throughout the evening as more data becomes available.
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