The Northern Lights made their appearance in New England several times this year! The image above showcases the vibrant green and purple hues spotted on Cape Cod in Chatham on August. The once-in-a-lifetime viewing of Northern Lights in New England we had on May 10 earlier this year, is turning out not to be so rare.
NOAA predicts the Northern Lights to be visible in northern New England Thanksgiving night, conveniently aligning with a potential Nor’easter, so you’ll feel just like you’re in Iceland!
Astronomers report that Solar Cycle 25, a celestial event, will reach its peak by July 2025. As it approaches its maximum, or peak, solar storms that cause the Northern Lights visibility will be stronger and more frequent. What does this mean for us?
Well, more chances to witness the Northern Lights in places you normally wouldn’t, such as New England. If solar activity, sky clarity, and location align, you might have several more chances to witness the Aurora Borealis in New England this 2024, including the predicted visibility on Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29 from about 10 PM through 2 AM. The red view line below indicates the predicted southernmost visibility by NOAA. From the Aurora Dashboard, you can see that mainly Northern New England, parts of Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, have the highest likelihood of visibility. Massachusetts is below the view line, but anything is possible!
How to see Northern Lights in New England?
The best viewing times for the Northern Lights are between 10 PM and 2 AM. Skies must be clear with minimal light pollution. The resources below guide you in tracking solar storm activity and Northern Lights visibility.
When are the Northern Lights returning to New England?
A series of 115 geomagnetic storms are anticipated between now and July 2025 from Solar Cycle 25. So far this year, New Englanders saw the Northern Lights in May, July, and August of 2024.
The most recent, and X9-rated solar flare produced large coronal mass ejections. This is the most powerful rating for a solar flare and could make the Northern Lights visible in Northern New England— Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire—over the weekend of October 4-5. There’s a chance they’ll be visible throughout Massachusetts as well.
The activity is expected to continue, with more chances to see them the rest of 2024 on select dates. Here’s the best way to find when they could be visible near you.
Best resources for tracking Northern Lights in your neighborhood
There’s so many factors that go into visibility of the Northern Lights. That’s why some were able to witness them in Acadia with the naked eye, and others in Boston got a shy glimpse only with a smartphone. That being said, these are the best resources to stay informed on the highest chances of seeing them. Sometimes it’ll work out, and occasionally you’ll face some heartbreak.
Download the My Aurora Forecast & Alerts app
This Aurora tracking app, available on iOS and Android tracks the Northern Lights near you, so you can determine exactly when your best viewing conditions are and get the latest updates on solar storms. It shares viewing probability near you and an Aurora map updated in real time.
NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center Aurora Forecast
This short-term Northern Lights forecasting tool analyzes the 30-minute prediction. It highlights the low and high probability viewing areas on the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Aurora Dashboard from NOAA
For a more comprehensive analysis of your Aurora viewing chances without downloading and app, the NOAA Aurora Dashboard analyses the past 24 hours of activity and summarizes the path and intensity of the Aurora.
You can also follow NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center on X for the latest updates. The best step is to periodically cross-check these resources to identify your likelihood of spotting the Aurora near you this year!