Aurora Borealis in Southern California

Aurora Borealis, Southern California, Mountains, Desert
Laguna Woods, California
May 12, 2024 1:45pm CST
Much to the amazement of people living in Southern California, away from the big cities like Los Angeles, millions of us were able to see spectacular views of the Aurora Borealis. A man posted this photo on Facebook, saying that he took it with his iPhone from Mountain High ski resort, at Big Bear. That is a mountain area to the East of Los Angeles, popular because you can get there in about 90 minutes. Some people also took photos of the Aurora Borealis at Joshua Tree National Park, which is in the desert, out near Palm Springs. Everyone was surprised to be able see the Northern Lights this far south. Were any of you able to see the Aurora Borealis from where you live? If so, let us know where you live, so we can get an idea of how many places were able to enjoy it.
12 people like this
12 responses
@kareng (59107)
• United States
12 May
Very nice! Nothing here in southern Mississippi. It was very cloudy last night though. I will continue to check to see it for the next few nights. Who knows?!!
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
13 May
@kareng - I hope you get a glipse. There were too many city lights where I live in Orange County, California, and we had clouds. It was much better in the mountains and deserts that are East of us.
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@kareng (59107)
• United States
15 May
@DeborahDiane Still striking out here, but the news captured photos at a place just 3.5 hours away from me. It was beautiful. When does the window close as to possibly catching the light show, do you know?
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• Laguna Woods, California
16 May
@kareng - The opportunity to see the Aurora Borealis in most of the U.S. is over. It was only visible last weekend. I guess if we want to see it again, we will have to go to Canada, Iceland, Alaska, or someplace like that.
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@wolfgirl569 (106192)
• Marion, Ohio
12 May
I was. It mostly just looked like the sky was lit up here
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@wolfgirl569 (106192)
• Marion, Ohio
15 May
@DeborahDiane I haven't heard when they expect it again
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@wolfgirl569 (106192)
• Marion, Ohio
13 May
@DeborahDiane It might have. I seen it when the dog woke me wanting out. I mostly wanted to go back to sleep
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• Laguna Woods, California
14 May
@wolfgirl569 - For the people who saw it, they thought it was pretty amazing. I wonder if it will ever happen again in our lifetimes!
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@kaylachan (69646)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 May
I live in Florida, I saw nothing.
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@kaylachan (69646)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
13 May
@DeborahDiane California is large with a lot of desert. So it's not really a surprise.
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• Laguna Woods, California
13 May
@kaylachan - Yes, I think Florida would be too far south. I was amazed that people were able to see it in Southern California, but only in places away from the city lights.
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• China
23 Oct
It is definitely a stunning view ! Seeing the Aurora Borealis is out of the question where I live.
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• China
24 Oct
@DeborahDiane It is a pity ! I think you will see it next time.
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• Laguna Woods, California
23 Oct
@changjiangzhibin89 - I have not been able to see it myself, but two of my daughters have seen it, and I know other people who have seen it. What an amazing experience!
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@TheHorse (218781)
• Walnut Creek, California
12 May
We'll be doing a music gig at Big Bear in a month or two. I'm not sure I've been there. I have not seen the Northern Lights over the past couple of nights. I may try again tonight. I've only been looking from where I live. I should drive to my horse's old house.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
13 May
@TheHorse - Yes, you may want to get away from the city, and the coastal clouds, so you can see the night sky better. Enjoy your music gig in Big Bear. Big Bear Lake is beautiful, and they have a cute little main street you can walk uphill from the lake. It's a sweet place to visit, but not any better than places like Lake Tahoe and the spots you can visit from Northern California. Have fun!
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@TheHorse (218781)
• Walnut Creek, California
13 May
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@Deepizzaguy (102799)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
12 May
The Auora Borealis did not make an appearance in the Lake Charles region.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
13 May
#Deepizzaguy - I think Louisiana is pretty far south, although I heard that some people in Alabama saw it.
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• Laguna Woods, California
14 May
@Deepizzaguy - Yes, that is why I compared it to Alabama. I thought it was possible that people might have seen the Aurora in Lake Charles, since they saw it in parts of Alabama. I have to admit that I was stunned that people were seeing it in the Southern California mountains and desert. For those of us who missed it, it was still cool to know that people nearby were seeing it! Such an unusual phenomenon.
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@Deepizzaguy (102799)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
14 May
@DeborahDiane Lake Charles is in the southern part of the U S.
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@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
13 May
We could not, perhaps we live too low. Others in our area of north central Kansas posted picturess.
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• Laguna Woods, California
13 May
@GardenGerty - It was wonderful that people in northern Kansas could see it. Amazing!
@RasmaSandra (79833)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 May
That looks just awesome, I did not see any of it,
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• Laguna Woods, California
13 May
@RasmaSandra - I think it would be very slight, if at all, in Florida.
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@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 May
It seems the lights were quite widespread. We even had the southern lights in Western Australia if you were in a dark area.
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• Laguna Woods, California
13 May
@JudyEv - Oh, how interesting! They don't talk about the Southern Lights up here, but it makes sense that the solar storm would have affected you, too. I'm sure they were quite a spectacle for the people who saw them!
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@Kandae11 (54994)
12 May
It looks awesome. How long did it last?
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• Laguna Woods, California
13 May
@Kandae11 - People were seeing it for a couple of hours before and after midnight, for about two nights.
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@dya80dya (36657)
12 May
It looks amazing. I am glad you shared this. I was not able to see it.
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• Laguna Woods, California
13 May
@dya80dya - I thought it was pretty amazing we could see it here in Southern California.
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@Rimps85 (1856)
• India
12 May
amazing!!
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
13 May
@Rimps85 - I agree! I could not believe that people could see it in Southern California!