Parts of the United States could be in for a magical Christmas sight: The Northern Lights.

Alaska and the northern Midwest states have the best chance of getting a glimpse of the dazzling sights, but the northern most reaches of New England may see it too, according to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. Based on maps they released, Maine has the best chance of seeing it tonight.

It’s possible more New England states will get a view of the Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis, tomorrow night when the view line dips down into Vermont and New Hampshire.

Map of where Northern Lights may be visible on Christmas 2024

Map: Where Northern Lights may be visible tomorrow

Christmas won’t be the only shot at seeing the Northern Lights from this storm. NOAA is predicting a broader swath will be able to see the Northern Lights tomorrow night, including parts of New Hampshire and Vermont.

How to see the northern lights

The best time to see an aurora is when it’s dark out, usually between an hour or two of midnight, according to NOAA. Officials recommend getting away from city lights and sticking to lower latitudes.

“There may be aurora in the evening and morning but it is usually not as active and therefore, not as visually appealing,” NOAA said.

Where to check the northern lights forecast

To track the latest northern lights forecast, check out these websites:

Are the northern lights dangerous?

The solar storms that cause the northern lights can affect technology by inducing extra currents in the ground that can degrade power grid operations, according to NOAA.

Kat Mitchell walks to work Tuesday in Auburn. “It’s very festive for Christmas,” Mitchell said about the snow falling on Christmas Eve. “Another day in Maine,” she said. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Parts of Maine were reporting a snowy Christmas on Tuesday.

As of 11:30 a.m., the National Weather Service said 6 inches of snow had fallen in Rangeley, 5 inches in Madrid, 1 inch in Freeport, 3 inches in Lewiston and as many as 8 inches in nearby Jackson, New Hampshire.

Portland received only a dusting of snow.

Jon Palmer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Gray, said forecasters expected precipitation to slow down in inland areas through Tuesday morning but said snowfall would continue up and down the coast with 1-3 inches expected from Portland through the Midcoast.

Palmer said Christmas Day would be “a pretty nice day” in Maine.

He said the day would start off mostly clear with some clouds building in the middle of the day all around the state. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 30s.

The forecast is expected to stay until Sunday, when 1 to 2 inches of rain will likely fall around the state. Although, he said, there could still be snow in the White Mountains.

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The Maine real estate market is beginning to see a shift to a more balanced market, according to the Maine Association of Realtors.

Maine Listings reported a 6.81 percent increase in sales of single-family existing homes during the month of November compared to November 2023. The median sales price (MSP) increased 8.45 percent to $385,000. The MSP indicates that half of the homes were sold for more and half sold for less.

“Prospective buyers are in a better situation than they were a year ago across many markets in Maine,” said  Paul McKee, President of the Maine Association of Realtors, in a Dec. 19 news release. “The number of homes for sale has increased, price appreciation is slowing, and the economic forecast is good.”

According to the National Association of Realtors, sales of single-family existing homes increased 7.4 percent nationally in November 2024 compared to November 2023, the release said. The national MSP reached $410,900 in November, a rise of 4.8 percent. Regionally, sales in the Northeast jumped 6.3 percent while the regional MSP increased 9.9 percent to $475,500 in November 2024 compared to November a year ago.

“We’re seeing promising signs that the real estate market is beginning to show signs of shifting slightly, with supply increasing and slower price appreciation.” adds McKee.

“The statewide sold statistics from January through November 2024 are 4.1 percent ahead of the same time period from a year ago. I’m optimistic that 2024 will end positively and buyer demand will continue to remain strong throughout 2025.”