A G2-level geomagnetic storm helped skywatchers catch Northern Lights further south than usual

NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) and the UK Met Office both forecasted these moderate (G2) geomagnetic storms.
PUBLISHED JUN 16, 2025
View of the Aurora in the night sky over Greenland (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Muhammad Syahrul Ramadhan)
View of the Aurora in the night sky over Greenland (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Muhammad Syahrul Ramadhan)

The northern lights recently made an appearance, potentially stretching further south than is typical, due to a period of intense space weather and geomagnetic storm conditions. The Earth experienced a solar storm's effects on the night of June 12-13, which resulted in a moderate G2 geomagnetic storm levels. Additionally, a turbulent area in the solar wind, called a co-rotating interaction region (CIR), also influenced Earth around June 14, per Space.com

Northern lights or aurora borealis in the night sky over the river Vecht in Overijssel, on October 10 in Dalfsen, Netherlands. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Sjoerd van der Wal)
Northern lights or aurora borealis in the night sky over the river Vecht in Overijssel, on October 10 in Dalfsen, Netherlands.(Image Source: Getty Images | Sjoerd van der Wal)

Both NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) and the UK Met Office had anticipated these moderate (G2) geomagnetic storms for June 13-14, with predictions of activity tapering off to unsettled levels by June 15-16. A G2-level geomagnetic storm expands the aurora oval — the typical zone where auroras form — farther south, providing skywatchers and observers across parts of the northern US with a potential glimpse of the elusive northern lights, given clear skies and minimal light pollution. Geomagnetic storms are classified on a G-scale, which ranges from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme).

According to NOAA's SWPC, states positioned either fully or partially above the potential aurora viewing line includes — Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, South Dakota, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Wyoming. The places are ordered by their likelihood of a sighting, considering their proximity to the auroral oval's center and the extent of the state within or near the viewing area. It's also worth noting that auroras are unpredictable; they can appear much farther south than anticipated or remain unseen entirely. A successful display hinges on the alignment of numerous conditions. Beyond geomagnetic activity, factors like cloud cover, light pollution, and the brevity of summer nights significantly influence visibility. 

Yellow tent illuminated under the aurora borealis display in Alaska's Arctic (Image Source: Getty | Patrick J. Endres)
Yellow tent illuminated under the aurora borealis display in Alaska's Arctic (Image Source: Getty | Patrick J. Endres)

Viewing celestial phenomena like the auroras can be significantly hampered by light pollution. This makes locations with truly dark skies exceptionally valuable. Oregon, home to the world's largest dark sky sanctuary, exemplifies this, boasting the top spot for stargazing among US national parks. Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon earned this distinction, according to a study by vacation rental site Lake.com, which analyzed National Park Service data from night sky collection sites to identify the top 20 best national parks for stargazing.  

Milking way captured at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon (Image Source: Getty | Son Gallery - Wilson Lee)
Milking way captured at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon (Image Source: Getty | Son Gallery - Wilson Lee)

While renowned as the deepest lake in the United States, Crater Lake's appeal extends to its exceptional stargazing opportunities, offering unparalleled views of the night sky. The park's remarkable clarity and, critically, its minimal light pollution are key factors in this recognition. A comprehensive study awarded Crater Lake a perfect 100 index score for stargazing. This impressive rating stems from an average of a staggering 98.6% of stars being visible across Crater Lake's four data collection sites. 

Furthermore, the park boasts an incredibly low average light pollution ratio of just 0.03. This ensures that the natural brilliance of the cosmos is largely unobstructed, creating a truly immersive stargazing experience. This is a stark contrast to areas where light pollution obscures the view of even intense aurora displays. Great Basin National Park in Nevada emerged as the closest contender with a respectable 88.58 index score for stargazing, based on strong 97.8% star visibility and a slightly higher, yet still impressively low, average light pollution ratio of 0.04. 

MORE STORIES

Unexpectedly intense, the brilliant celestial display emerged during a routine G2-class geomagnetic storm that was initiated by a passing Coronal Mass Ejection (CME).
15 hours ago
The icy body achieved its nearest point to Earth on Tuesday, October 21, passing at a distance of approximately 55.5 million kilometers (under 0.6 Astronomical Units).
22 hours ago
The comet is offering viewers in 2025 their absolute best chance for a sighting before it disappears from sight for the next 1,300 years.
1 day ago
The absence of moonlight guarantees exceptionally dark skies, dramatically boosting the visibility of the swift space debris.
1 day ago
The asteroid is expected to approach the lunar surface as closely as 74,616 miles, according to recent data.
6 days ago
A cluster of three coronal mass ejections (CMEs), all launched from the intensely active sunspot region AR4246, is now forecast to strike Earth between October 15 and 17.
6 days ago
Though the North and South Taurids only yield around ten meteors per hour during their overlap, they are renowned for generating brilliant, bright fireballs.
Oct 14, 2025
On October 20, the celestial visitor will reach the closest to Earth, passing at a distance of approximately 39 million kilometers.
Oct 10, 2025
Slated for the night of October 9–10, 2025, the celestial spectacle will feature the brightly lit waning gibbous Moon (86% illuminated).
Oct 9, 2025
Viewing conditions this year were heavily compromised because the shower's peak activity coincided with the residual brightness of October's Supermoon.
Oct 9, 2025