Northern lights offer gorgeous views around the world. See the photos.

Jason Sargent Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Amaris Encinas, USA TODAYTue, January 20, 2026 at 11:26 PM UTC

A once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon painted night skies all over the world with broad, colorful strokes on Monday, Jan. 19.

Also known as the "Aurora Borealis," the Northern lights "are the result of interactions between the Sun and Earth's outer atmosphere," according to the National Weather Service. The result of these "interactions" is a panorama of lights projected onto the night sky.

A severe geomagnetic storm − a major disturbance of the region in space surrounding Earth − made for a stronger aurora than usual, according to an alert from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).

1 / 0See Northern lights dazzle in January 2026 with stunning viewsImage licensed for 1-time use for 1/20/26 aurora borealis gallery Additional use requires relicensing. The aurora borealis lights up the sky on Jan. 20, 2026 in Beiji Village, Mohe City, Heilongjiang Province of China. A recent geomagnetic storm created stunning aurora shows across the globe. Strong solar activity could make the northern lights visible in roughly two dozen states on Jan. 20. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/20/northern-lights-tonight-forecast/88261584007/

Coronal mass ejection − a large expulsion of plasma and magnetic field from the sun − and the cause of the increase in geomagnetic activity reached Earth around 2 p.m. EST on Jan. 19, SWPC's service coordinator Shawn Dahl said in a post on X.

A mere 24 hours after the northern lights dazzled communities worldwide, another "show" is forecast to occur in multiple states across the country on Jan. 20.

See all of the places the Northern lights dazzled overnight, including which states will be able to see them tonight.

More: How to capture the northern lights on your phone

Which states could see the Northern lights tonight?

According to NOAA's forecast, parts of approximately 27 states are partially or fully within the "view line" for the Northern lights on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The "view line" represents the southern-most locations from which you may see the aurora on the northern horizon, the agency shared.

Because the forecast is only a prediction, the aurora could be witnessed further out if the conditions are right.

States that lie along the "view line," making the possibility of catching a glimpse almost guaranteed, include: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, Washington and Wisconsin.

Photos show Northern lights dazzle around the world

From New Mexico to Ploudalmezeau, France, sightings of the aurora borealis on Monday, Jan. 19 made for some gorgeous moments (and photo opportunities) around the world.

See some of the places where the northern lights painted the night sky:

Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, are seen above der Wenzel church Austria, on Jan/ 19, 2026.

Northern lights, are seen following a powerful sunstorm in Ploudalmezeau, France, on Jan. 19, 2026.

Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, are pictured following a powerful sunstorm over Portsall, western France, on Jan. 19, 2026.

A photo shows a moored fishing boat as Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, are seen following a powerful sunstorm in the harbour of Portsall, western France, on Jan. 19, 2026.