Northern lights may be visible in some states tonight: Here's where

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FOX viewer Steven Trine from Paris, Illinois shared this photo of the northern lights on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2025.

The northern lights may put on a show tonight for Thanksgiving Eve and be visible in several states. 

Northern lights visible in parts of US

Forecasters said the vibrant displays could be visible from Alaska to Idaho. 

According to NOAA's forecast, the states with the best chances of seeing the northern lights are:

• Alaska
• Washington
• North Dakota
• Minnesota
• Montana
• Maine
• Michigan
• Wisconsin
• South Dakota
• Idaho

NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center aurora forecast for Nov. 25, 2025. (NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center)

The best times to see northern lights in the US 

Dig deeper:

NOAA says the northern lights could be visible as soon as it gets dark and throughout the evening.

Tips on seeing northern lights: 

• Try to find an unobscured view and look toward the northern horizon.
• It must be dark outside, so if you can, go somewhere that has as little light pollution as possible.
• Check the weather forecast because clouds can cover up the spectacle entirely.
• Taking a picture with a smartphone camera may also reveal hints of the aurora that aren’t visible to the naked eye.

How to photograph the Northern Lights with your phone

What you can do:

KDFW FOX 4 News compiled these tips for taking photos of the northern lights.

DSLR cameras offer the best control for aurora photography, but your smartphone is perfectly capable of capturing hints of the lights. The key is stability and long exposure.

Best settings for your camera:

Turn Off the Flash: Locate and turn off the lightning bolt symbol on your camera screen.

Use Night Mode: If your phone has a dedicated Night Mode (available on iPhone 11 and later, usually indicated by a moon symbol), use it. Night Mode automatically uses a longer exposure time to gather light.

Ensure Stability: Any movement during a night shot will cause blurriness. Use a tripod, or brace your phone against a sturdy surface.

Use the Timer: To prevent camera shake from tapping the screen, use the timer feature. This gives you time to step away from the phone before the long exposure begins.

Manual Adjustments (for iPhones):

To access manual controls on an iPhone camera, tap the arrow symbol at the top of the screen. A row of controls will appear at the bottom:

Select Exposure: Tap the exposure icon (often the same moon symbol as Night Mode).

Set Max Exposure: A slider will appear. Drag the slider to the "Max" setting. This forces the longest possible exposure time, allowing the most light (and color) to hit the lens.

Earlier this month, the northern lights were visible across much of the Lower 48, and social media lit up with people sharing breathtaking pictures of the celestial show lighting up the sky lit up in different shades of green, purple and red; a stark contrast to the colors that we see at sunrise and sunset.

FOX viewer Jenifer Ingram from Golden Texas shared this photo of the northern lights on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2025.

FOX viewer Karissa from Breckenridge Colorado shared this photo of the northern lights on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2025.

FOX viewer Kathy Howell - Granville Ohio shared this photo of the northern lights on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2025.

FOX viewer Macy Mommer Fromm Waterloo, Iowa shared this photo of the northern lights on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2025.

FOX viewer Steven Trine from Paris, Illinois shared this photo of the northern lights on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2025.

Northern lights forecasts can be found on NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center website or an aurora forecasting app.