How ‘Bout Those Northern Lights Over Bismarck?

A massive Northern Lights show was on display for much of the Capital City last night.

Even when I woke up on Wednesday morning and headed off to work, the Northern Lights were still dancing this morning. Even to the naked eye, the pinks, greens, and reds were spectacular. This was definitely the best showing of Northern Lights I have witnessed in many, many years.

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I know I'm not alone, as my Facebook page was blowing up with Northern Lights posts from friends from North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, South Dakota, and even Europe. In fact, much of the United States saw the Aurora's last night, in as many as 21 states.

What causes the Northern Lights to occur?

According to Rainbow Symphony, the Northern Lights dazzle our world when the collision of charged particles from the sun mixes with gases in the Earth's upper atmosphere. This is known as solar wind, and the Earth's magnetic field deflects most of it. Some of the particles are funneled towards the Earth's poles, where they collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms, causing the brilliant lights we all love to enjoy.

Will the Northern Lights be visible again tonight (November 12th, 2025) in North Dakota?

According to NOAA's Auroa forecast, you might just get another chance again tonight. In fact, they could be even stronger. The weather forecast is calling for clear skies tonight, too. In the meantime, enjoy my 6 best photos that I took from my house south of Lincoln, North Dakota (no filters, just with my iPhone). What a show, it was truly a mesmerizing experience.