Get Ready! NOAA Forecasts Rare Northern Lights Show in Northern California this Week.

A rare chance to witness the northern lights could come to Northern California tonight and Friday, following a major solar flare observed earlier this week.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has issued geomagnetic storm watches after the second-largest solar flare of the current cycle erupted on Tuesday.

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are expected to be visible across the northern U.S. from October 3 to 5, with the best viewing opportunity coming late Friday night into the early hours of Saturday. While typically seen closer to the poles, sightings could stretch as far south as Southern California, bringing a rare opportunity for NorCal to see the vibrant display with the naked eye.

Last week, a similar solar event lit up skies in the Pacific Northwest, and now Northern California residents may catch a glimpse of the greenish and reddish hues lighting up the sky. The chances of seeing the aurora depend on clear weather and dark skies, so experts advise getting away from city lights for the best view.

These solar flares are part of the sun’s 11-year cycle, which is expected to peak in 2025, making northern lights displays more frequent. The display was seen in Northern California earlier this year in both May and August.

Be sure to head outside and look up tonight—you just might witness a spectacular light show!