The Northern Lights forecast has been upgraded to “severe” and could blind Upstate New York tonight (or tomorrow).

If you've seen amazing aurora photos taken in upstate New York and want to catch a glimpse of them yourself, you might have another chance tonight – or tomorrow.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a severe geometric storm warning for October 10 and 11. The daily aurora forecast predicts colorful skies could occur across most of Upstate New York during the event.

NOAA says the possible G4 storm, caused by a large solar flare, could be visible as far away as Alabama and Northern California this evening under clear skies.

Today's event is forecast to have a Kp index of 8, meaning the aurora will move even further towards the equator and become very bright and very active.

NOAA reports that these are the events that produce the best auroras and that the extensive auroral oval will be visible to most people.

UK residents near London have already posted photos of northern lights-filled skies on social media.

New York has had several opportunities to see beautiful nighttime rainbow skies this year, including in May, August, September and early October.

Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights?

Go after dark if you want the best chance of seeing the neon sky. Avoid as much light pollution as possible and ensure a clear view of the horizon to the north. Popular locations include areas with dark skies like the Adirondacks and clear horizons like Lake Ontario or northern New York, which borders Lake Champlain.

When do the Northern Lights appear?

Predicting when and where the lights will be visible is not an easy task. NOAA says the best aurora typically occurs within an hour or two after midnight, between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, but can also appear any time after sunset or sunrise.

For an updated aurora forecast, visit the NOAA website or the Space Weather Prediction Center Facebook page.

How can I photograph the Northern Lights?

You don't need an expensive camera to capture the northern lights. Visit Island, a popular Northern Lights viewing destination, offers tips on how to capture the event with your smartphone. They suggest switching your phone to night mode and adjusting the exposure time to 10-15 seconds if possible to fully capture the sky. A tripod is also helpful to keep your phone stable and your lens in focus.

When the Northern Lights appear this evening, we would love to see your photos. Please send your recordings to [email protected] Be sure to include your name and the location where the photos were taken.