Northern lights set to glow over Alaska, Canada and Greenland this week as solar activity rises

Solar activity remains elevated this week, shaped largely by one persistent sunspot region and the steady stream of solar material it has released. Measurements from the US Space Weather Prediction Center show continued flare activity and a disturbed solar wind passing Earth. None of it points to extreme geomagnetic storms, but it is enough to keep the upper atmosphere active. Currently, the effects primarily manifest near the poles. NOAA describes the situation as fluid rather than dramatic. Where auroras might be visible depends on timing, darkness, and whether the sky cooperates during long winter nights across the north.

Elevated solar activity keeps auroras visible across high-latitude regions

Auroras are expected to stay largely confined from 5th to 7th February to high-latitude regions, including Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland, and parts of Scandinavia. These places sit under the usual auroral oval and tend to respond first when Earth’s magnetic field becomes unsettled. Even modest disturbances can produce visible light there, though nothing is guaranteed. Clear skies still matter, as does darkness. Space weather can create the necessary conditions, but cloud cover or daylight can also abruptly end the spectacle.

Solar activity continues to feed the auroral system

The present pattern traces back to ongoing activity from a single dominant sunspot group. Over recent days, it has produced several strong flares and several eruptions that sent charged particles outward. Some of that material has already brushed past Earth, stirring the magnetic field slightly. The effects are mild, not the kind that trigger major storms, but enough to keep energy flowing into the upper atmosphere, where auroras take shape.

How aurora maps show intensity and location

Forecast maps usually show auroral activity as a green oval wrapped around Earth’s magnetic pole. That shape marks where displays are most likely. When conditions become more active, the oval brightens and can shift in colour, sometimes turning red to signal stronger intensity. The same maps also show daylight areas in lighter tones, a reminder that auroras are hidden when the Sun is up. Most viewing happens after sunset or before sunrise, in the quieter edges of night.

Visibility can extend far beyond the oval

Auroras do not always need to be overhead. When displays brighten, they can sometimes be seen from far outside the main oval, appearing low along the horizon from hundreds of kilometres away. These moments are brief and depend on many small factors coming together. For now, the activity looks steady rather than expansive, keeping most auroras anchored to far northern skies, with occasional hints rather than wide-reaching displays.