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Arizona got another rare chance to see the northern lights on Monday night.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasted that the aurora borealis could be visible in up to 28 states on Jan. 19, including Ohio, Iowa and Colorado.
On Monday, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center issued a G4 severe geomagnetic storm warning after a recent coronal mass ejection erupted from the sun. Strong solar storms like these can push auroral activity far south of its normal visibility range.
Though we didn’t get the brighter hues of the aurora borealis as we did with some of 2025’s events, there were some sightings.
But will the phenomenon repeat tonight?
Bob Hughes
Where in Arizona will the northern lights be visible?
Nowhere tonight, unfortunately. The NOAA prediction map places aurora borealis activity far, far north of Arizona.
Arizona has beaten such odds before. The northern lights have appeared over Flagstaff, Sedona and parts of metro Phoenix during similar geomagnetic solar storms in recent years.
When the aurora lit up Arizona in 2024 and 2025, local skywatchers reported vivid red, purple and pink hues glowing across the night sky.
Aleksandra Oldak
How to see the northern lights in Arizona
When there is a chance to see the lights, skywatchers should look toward the northern horizon from locations with minimal light pollution and the darkest skies possible.
Northern and higher-elevation parts of Arizona offer the best chances of seeing the northern lights. Traveling farther north can improve visibility of the aurora borealis.
Smartphones and cameras can sometimes capture faint auroral color that is difficult to see with the naked eye. Using night mode or long exposure settings on either device may reveal subtle red or purple hues near the horizon.
What time are the northern lights in Arizona tonight?
Unfortunately, we’re not getting them tonight, Tuesday, Jan. 20. We hope you got to see them last night.
