Will Iowa get Northern Lights tonight?

Tuesday saw a rapid coronal ejection, a burst of solar material and the Sun's magnetic fields. This triggered a “severe” G4 solar storm that will lead to greatly increased geomagnetic activity, making clocks of this magnitude “very rare,” according to NOAA. The aurora could be visible from southern Alabama to northern California.

So how can you watch the solar show in Iowa?

Northern Lights forecast: When will the Aurora Borealis be visible?

According to NOAA, the Aurora Borealis will be visible on Thursday and Friday evenings.

When can I see the Northern Lights in Iowa?

Historically, the best time to see the lights was between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m

Iowa has the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights on Thursday, as the state will be completely covered in line of sight. On Friday, the aurora borealis could be visible from northern Iowa, but the likelihood is not that great, according to NOAA.

Avoid areas with light pollution that obscures visibility. The Dark Sky Map shows the areas in Iowa with the highest and lowest light pollution.