The auroras have a four on the Kp scale for July 2 and July 3, meaning the colorful display is expected to be "quite pleasing to look at" if conditions align

When will the northern lights be visible?, Where will the northern lights be visible?, How to watch the northern lights?, How to take photos of the northern lights?

NEED TO KNOW

The northern lights are forecast to be visible from several parts of the United States on Wednesday, July 2, and Thursday, July 3, 2025
The auroras are expected to be "quite pleasing to look at" since they measure a four on the Kp scale, which ranges from zero to nine
The northern lights are best viewed in the hours right before and after midnight, and can't be viewed in the daylight

Consider this a pre-show to the Fourth of July fireworks.

Northern lights are forecast for the nights leading up to Independence Day, which are expected to color the sky in parts of the United States on Wednesday, July 2, and Thursday, July 3.

This round of northern lights marks the second time the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s forecast aurora activity this week, previously reporting back-to-back displays on Monday, June 30, and Tuesday, July 1.

Similar to reports earlier in the week, this stretch of aurora activity clocks a consecutive four on the Kp index that ranges from zero to nine. This means the northern lights will move further from the pole and can be "quite pleasing to look at" depending on the night's weather conditions.

The best part? The northern lights are predicted to be visible across several parts of the United States throughout the entire duration of the aura activity. The northernmost states are expected to have the best chances of catching a glimpse.

Now, read on for how to watch the northern lights in the lead up to the Fourth of July!

When will the northern lights be visible?

The northern lights are forecast for Wednesday, July 2, and Thursday, July 3, 2025. The best time to spot them is in the immediate hours before and after midnight, according to NOAA, specifically between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time.

(Note: It's not possible to spot the northern lights in daylight.)

Where will the northern lights be visible?

The northern lights will be visible across several parts of the United States, specifically the northernmost locations closest to Canada. Visibility will be the same across both nights on July 2 and July 3.

Locations for viewing include northern Washington, northern Idaho, most of Montana, all of North Dakota, most of South Dakota, almost all of Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, northern Michigan and northern Maine.

How to watch the northern lights?

The northern lights are exciting for many reasons, but the best part is that advanced technology isn't needed to spot them from Earth. Simply, the naked eye can catch a glimpse of the colorful display — that is, if the conditions align (we're looking at you, Mother Nature).

Prime conditions include clear skies without light pollution, so hope for no rain or fog on the nights the auroras are forecast. Also, try to find the darkest locations when watching (avoid city lights that have the potential to drown out the display).

How to take photos of the northern lights?

When a rare phenomenon like the northern lights occurs, obviously, you have to take a picture! Thanks to today's advanced technology, certain smartphones have the capability to capture the auroras with a simple tap of a button.

All smartphone users have to do is toggle on the "Night Mode" settings on the device. Then, snap away!