Direct answer: The Northern Lights can be seen much farther south than commonly expected during strong solar activity, with historical and recent observations reaching into the mid-latitudes and even into parts of the southern United States under exceptional conditions. Key points

• Typical visibility: Auroras are normally visible at high latitudes, roughly 60–75°N, where geomagnetic activity channels particles into the polar sky.

• Historic extremes: In strong storms, auroras have been reported as far south as Honolulu (about 21°N) during the 1859 Carrington-like events, and even near the equator in some rare historical records for the aurora australis in Samoa (13°S) and other locations under exceptional conditions.

• Modern instances: Recent forecasts and reports indicate potential visibility across large parts of the continental U.S. during intense geomagnetic storms, with southern states occasionally seeing northern lights as far south as Florida, Alabama, or Texas depending on storm strength and local observing conditions.

• Practical viewing tips: To maximize chances, seek dark skies away from light pollution, face north (in the Northern Hemisphere), and monitor real-time space weather alerts for storm strength and aurora oval location. Visibility grows with stronger geomagnetic storms and favorable sky conditions.

What affects how far south it can be seen

• Solar activity level: Stronger solar eruptions push the aurora oval closer to low latitudes, increasing southern visibility.

• Geomagnetic conditions: The orientation and intensity of Earth's magnetic field during a storm determine how far the auroral curtain extends toward the equator.

• Local darkness and horizon clarity: Even during favorable geomagnetic conditions, light pollution, cloud cover, and horizon obstruction can limit visibility.

Examples by region

• United States: In recent years, reports and forecasts have noted potential aurora visibility across much of the northern U.S., with rare sightings in southern states like Florida and Alabama during strong events.

• Europe and other latitudes: Similar southern-extending opportunities occur during extreme events, though they are less common than in the U.S. context.

If you’d like, I can pull the latest forecasts for an upcoming predicted aurora event and give you a practical, location-specific visibility estimate (time windows, best directions, and observing tips).