A powerful geomagnetic storm is pushing the auroral oval farther south than usual, giving Washington one of the best chances in years to see the northern lights with the naked eye. With dark winter skies and an Earth‑directed coronal mass ejection in play, tonight’s setup combines strong space‑weather conditions with ideal timing for skywatchers across the state.
Washington sits directly beneath the southern edge of the auroral oval during strong geomagnetic disturbances, and tonight’s storm is forecast near G3–G4 levels on NOAA’s space‑weather scale. During events of this intensity, the aurora can dip well into the northern United States, putting much of northern and central Washington within the potential viewing band.
In practical terms, this means that residents from Bellingham and the San Juan Islands east through Spokane and the Columbia Plateau should treat tonight as a high‑value aurora opportunity, with southern urban corridors like Seattle‑Tacoma still having a meaningful chance if skies stay clear and dark.
Auroras can flare at any point in the night during a strong storm, but both NOAA guidance and long‑term aurora research point to a core “prime window” around local midnight. For Washington on Monday, January 19, 2026, that window overlaps neatly with the period of heightened geomagnetic activity expected after the CME arrives.
If you follow real‑time Kp and aurora maps on NOAA’s Aurora Dashboard or similar tools, consider heading out as soon as Kp values spike to 7 or higher, which often corresponds to aurora pushing into mid‑latitude regions like Washington.
Rather than chasing a single exact spot, focus on choosing the right type of place: dark, open, and with a clear northern horizon. The specific destination will depend on where in Washington you live, but the same principles apply from Puget Sound to the Palouse.
Key location guidelines:
Examples of promising types of areas include coastal viewpoints along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, rural stretches of the Skagit and Whatcom County lowlands, and darker sites on the Columbia Plateau east of the Cascades. Because road and weather conditions can change rapidly in January, always confirm closures and forecast updates before committing to longer drives, especially over mountain passes.
Many first‑time observers underestimate how subtle the aurora can appear at lower latitudes, especially during the early phases of a storm. In Washington, the display may start as a faint grayish or pale‑green arc on the northern horizon that brightens into pillars or moving curtains as the geomagnetic activity increases.
Practical viewing tips:
Photographically, Washington observers have an advantage: modern phones and entry‑level cameras can record color and detail the human eye barely detects. Use a tripod or stable surface, enable night mode or manual long exposures (5–15 seconds), and keep ISO moderately high to capture well‑defined auroral structures.
January conditions in Washington range from wet and windy on the coast to icy and snowy inland, so treating the night like a winter road trip is essential. Respecting public and private lands helps keep viewing sites accessible for future storms while also keeping you on the right side of local regulations.
Core safety and ethics checklist:
Contenido GEC