Nearly two dozen U.S. states could get another chance to see the northern lights on Nov. 12, after the aurora borealis dazzled skywatchers across the northern U.S. the previous night.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center, a coronal mass ejection (CME) — a burst of plasma and magnetic energy from the sun — is expected to reach Earth around midday Nov. 12. The arrival could trigger heightened geomagnetic activity, increasing the chances of aurora sightings. 

NOAA forecasts a K-index of 6 out of 9, meaning the aurora could extend farther south from the poles than usual. A Kp level of 6–7 typically signals a bright and active display. The event is also rated G2 (moderate) on NOAA’s geomagnetic storm scale.

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, appear when charged particles from the sun interact with Earth’s magnetic field, producing glowing curtains of color in the night sky. While NOAA’s current model shows visibility mainly for northern states, actual sightings can stretch well beyond predictions. On Nov. 11, for example, people reported seeing the aurora as far south as Texas, Florida, and Colorado.

The aurora is best viewed in dark skies just after sunset or before sunrise, typically peaking within a few hours of midnight, NOAA says.

Based on NOAA’s forecasted view line, the following states have the best chance of catching the spectacle on Nov. 12:

Alaska, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.