This Spring Could Be One of the Best Times to See the Northern Lights for Years

"Solar activity, which drives the aurora, is now slowly waning as the sun moves past the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, known as solar maximum, which topped out in late 2024. That decline doesn't mean the lights are fading away overnight. In fact, a sweet spot for viewing is arriving in mid- to late March, when several favorable conditions overlap. Known as the Russell-McPherron effect, this seasonal alignment statistically boosts the odds of auroral activity."

""It's only an enhancing condition, not a trigger on its own," says Jonny Cooper, founder of Nordic travel company Off The Map Travel and the creator of aurora-forecasting app Aurora Buddy. "I've seen some great displays around the equinoxes, and I've also seen very little happen." Strong northern lights visible at the mid-latitudes still require a trigger like a larger solar event, such as a coronal mass ejection aimed squarely at Earth."

"But this March also brings another advantage: darkness. A new moon on the night of March 18-19 will leave skies especially dark around the equinox, helping even faint auroras stand out more vividly. If you don't see the northern lights next month, however, all is not lost-the northern lights won't be disappearing entirely as the sun moves toward solar minimum. Solar activity tends to decline gradually after maximum, meaning strong displays can still pop up any time."

Solar activity is slowly waning after an 11-year solar maximum that peaked in late 2024, but the decline is gradual and significant auroras can still occur. Mid- to late March offers a favorable viewing window because the spring equinox on March 20, 2026 aligns Earth's and the sun's magnetic fields (the Russell-McPherron effect), statistically boosting auroral odds. That alignment enhances chances but does not trigger displays; larger solar events like coronal mass ejections aimed at Earth remain necessary for strong mid-latitude auroras. A new moon on March 18–19 will darken skies, making faint auroras more visible. High-latitude areas under the auroral oval can show impressive displays even during lower-level activity.

Read at Conde Nast Traveler