Over the week of Nov. 10-14, the skies of many states across the country were lit up with bright hues of green, pink, and purple. Appearing at high visibility in likely states such as Alaska, Minnesota and North Dakota, the Northern Lights spanned all the way to the southern states of Alabama and even Florida.
This rare phenomenon was a result of what scientists described as a severe solar storm. This makes it sound danger ous or intense, but what it really means is that there was such strong solar activity occurring, that it caused the Northern Lights to be extra visible to a wider audience. This sort of severe storm leads to breathtaking views.
The storm reached its peak on Nov. 12, but the Northern Lights were visible throughout the whole week. Residents of Grand Forks and University of North Dakota students even report seeing them from within city limits. Although the lights can be viewed in North Dakota, it is quite rare to see them in town due to the high level of light pollution.
If you were active on social media at all during this week, odds are you saw countless posts of the various views of this phenomenon. You may feel as though you missed out if you didn’t see the Northern Lights this time around or may be confused as to why your view wasn’t as strong, or why your photos weren’t as bright. If this is the case, rest assured, because this isn’t the only time that the lights will be visible.
The upcoming year of 2026 is already being forecasted as a highly active year for Northern Light visibility. If you are determined to see them, keep an eye out for updates on their activity by staying up to date on any solar storm reports. Once you see that they are going to be active, make a plan to travel to an area with minimal light pollution and clear views of the sky. Then let your eyes adjust to the darkness and be prepared to snap some pictures.
Another thing to keep in mind when viewing the Northern Lights is to not compare what you see with your own eyes to what you see online. Often times, the photos that you see online are enhanced to bring out the colors and although they are strong and beautiful in person, phone cameras often pick up more than what your eyes can see. This does offer a unique way of locating the lights or confirming that what you see is actually them, but don’t become discouraged or compare what you see in person to what you see online.
Although this specific solar storm was visible all over the U.S., one of the benefits of living somewhere like North Dakota is that there are often other opportunities to view the Northern Lights. During your time spent at UND, it is almost essential to make the effort to view this phenomenon, especially if you do not plan to be at the university for a long time.
So, especially if you missed this opportunity, you may want to consider planning ahead for the next opportunity. Grab a few friends, take a drive out of town and look to the northern sky.
Nora Lee is a Dakota Student Section Editor. She can be reached at [email protected].
