Overview:
The Northern Lights dazzled Colorado skies Nov. 11 and 12. Here’s why they appeared and whether they could return tonight, Nov. 13.
Colorado residents were treated to an extraordinary celestial show this week, as the Northern Lights made a rare two-night appearance on November 11 and 12. The aurora borealis illuminated skies across the state with sweeping bands of purple, magenta and green, making it one of Colorado’s brightest displays in years.
The dazzling colors were triggered by a series of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the sun. When those solar storms collide with Earth’s magnetic field, they can spark geomagnetic storms strong enough to push auroras well beyond their usual northern range. According to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, two CMEs collided earlier this week, creating a category-four geomagnetic storm and setting the stage for Colorado’s rare light show.
While Wednesday’s aurora was less visible and mostly missed the Denver metro area, people all over Colorado captured stunning images on Tuesday night. And there may be one last chance to spot the lights tonight, November 13. NOAA forecasts indicate another CME collision could take place between roughly 3 p.m. and midnight, though the aurora viewline currently sits well north of Colorado.
As always, clear, dark skies remain essential, meaning rural areas offer the best odds. Most of Colorado was also outside of the predicted viewline last night, but the aurora appeared, so the chances of seeing it tonight are slimmer, but not zero.
For the latest conditions, skywatchers can monitor NOAA’s Aurora Viewline tracker, which updates throughout the day. Until then, enjoy our gallery of Colorado’s most recent brush with the Northern Lights:
