Updated northern lights forecast has Washington in 'view line' tonight, June 25
A spectacular light show in the night sky may be visible in Washington today (June 25) and June 26, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts.
NOAA's updated northern lights forecast map shows much of Washington state – including Seattle, Spokane, Everett, Tacoma, Bellevue and Bellingham – inside the "view line" for the aurora borealis on June 25. The "view line" reflects the "southern-most locations from which you may see the aurora on the northern horizon," according to NOAA.
This viewing zone shifts farther north on June 26 but still includes a wide section of Northern Washington.
Washington is among more than a dozen states that could witness the phenomenon. Other areas in the Pacific Northwest region that might get a glimpse of the show include northeastern Oregon, North Idaho, and Montana.
Here's what to know.
The best time to potentially see the northern lights in Washington will be from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. PT when the night sky is darkest, according to Auroracourses.eu.
Space.com recommends 1 a.m.
"Remember, auroras can be fickle," the Space.com article stated. "Sometimes they can appear much farther south than predicted, and other times they barely show up at all. There are many conditions that have to align for the perfect show. It is possible that many more states could witness auroras tonight, or perhaps far fewer will."
The biggest thing to keep in mind is that light pollution from cities will lower your chances of seeing the northern lights in the night sky.
Those hoping for a glimpse of the aurora borealis should find a north-facing area far away from city lights, Space.com suggested.
Cloud cover also affects visibility, though the aurora might still be able to be seen through scattered clouds, Auroracourses.eu reported.
The National Weather Service's sky cover forecasts indicate that cloudy skies on the night of June 25 may hamper sight lines for hopeful stargazers in Western Washington and Eastern Washington. Central Washington is predicted to have the clearest skies, according to the weather agency.
The auroras are a natural light display in Earth's sky that are famously best seen in high-latitude regions of the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
The phenomenon is caused when electrically charged particles from space enter Earth's atmosphere and collide with molecules and gases like oxygen and nitrogen, causing the atmospheric particles to gain energy. To return to their normal state, the particles release that energy in the form of light, according to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks Geophysical Institute website, which tracks the phenomenon.
As auroras form, Earth's magnetic field redirects the particles toward the poles through a process that produces a stunning display of rays, spirals and flickers that have fascinated humans for millennia. Whether hues of green, red, blue and even pink dance about in the sky depends on the altitude where the collisions occur, as well as the composition and density of the atmosphere at the time.
Contributing: Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY Network
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Washington is in NOAA's northern lights 'view line' forecast tonight
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