Home / Editor's Pick /

Northern Lights enter active period

08:00 PM
September 17, 2022

Aurora season
Northern Lights enter active period

Aurora BorealisThe Northern Lights seen in the Arctic, this year's aurora season means we may see the lights closer to home.

It’s time for the bright lights to shine high above as the year’s aurora season begins in the northern hemisphere.

Across the northern hemisphere auroras are best seen between September and April, and the further north you give the better chance of witnessing the phenomena.

It is possible to see an aurora away from the far north of the U.S. but it requires some luck. Most major cities have too much light pollution so national parks and rural landscapes along the Canadian - U.S. border are ideal.

The Northern Lights can descend over the northern U.S. during times of increased solar activity, for example during geomagnetic storms.

During these storms, the Sun sends tremendous amounts of solar materials from coronal mass ejections or sunspots which react with the magnetosphere.

There is no guarantee that you will see this natural phenomenon, auroras appear above the cloud layer so clear skies are needed. You can use the WeatherRadar to know the best time to spot them.

This time of the year is considered aurora season for the early sunsets and long nights offering ideal conditions to spot the legendary glow.

Learn more on the mystical auroras with our Weather Explained below:

Weather & Radar USA editorial team
More on the topic
Saturday, April 26, 2025

Off the coast of Sardinia

Waterspout seen from cruise ship
rip current
Monday, May 26, 2025

As more head to the coast

Rip currents & safety tips
Saturday, May 3, 2025

May astronomy outlook

Meteor shower and the Flower Moon
All weather news
This might also interest you
Monday, July 14, 2025

Daily briefing

Heavy Northeast rains, stormy Texas thru Ozarks
Hurricane Irma covers the entiret of Florida with Hurricane Maria coming up behind it.
Sunday, July 13, 2025

Do you live there?

6 riskiest places to live: hurricane edition
Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Daily briefing

Severe weather moves to the Midwest, NE flash flood
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.com

instagramfacebookthreadsContact uslinkList
Privacy policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement