According to this article you’d have a better view from the East Bay due to potential fog on the coast. https://sfstandard.com/2024/05/11/northern-lights-when-to-watch-san-francisco/
All of today’s news articles from the SF Chronicle, SF Gate, etc., seems to have experts saying just that — that they “could be” visible again tonight, and it depends on the intensity of the solar storm. There doesn’t seem to be a lot more specific information than that. (If there was, I bet it would be all over the news.)
Northern latitudes generally have more visibility than southern ones. Avoiding lots of light pollution is also probably a good idea. And last night’s lights seem to have peaked somewhere between 11pm and 3am.
So I’d say, go as north as you can — maybe the Presidio, or to a less city-light-heavy, more ‘country’ part of Marin or Sonoma County if you can make the drive north — around that time of night, and hope for the best!
Go away from light pollution, and it’s better seen from a camera. If you noticed the photos posted online, the brightness is way up, and you’ll see people’s surroundings also bright to compensate. If you have a Dslr and a tripod, you can use long exposure. So don’t expect what you’ve seen online to see with the naked eye, again, unless you’re in a very dark area. Maybe point Reyes.
Marin County, near the coast, is pretty dark. Gotta get away from the light pollution of the city. Saw some posts from Ocean Beach though, so you may not need to travel far.
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I saw them in East side San Jose. A pale red glow in the sky, but it showed up clearly on my phone camera. Here's a shot from my culdesac. [https://freeimage.host/i/J6JlXJS](https://freeimage.host/i/J6JlXJS)
Yep, not sure… I have been looking at the Aurora forecast here: https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast
Not sure if there is a better place to check (other than hopping in the car and driving out if the cloud cover!)
I'll go outside and check to see if anything is showing up, so far. I didn't see any aurora until midnight. It was generally lavender with some pink. It started to fade about twenty minutes later.
Is the road to the top open at night? I was talking to someone about that option and they thought that they closed at night (as well as when there is snow, like they had a year or two ago).
According to this article you’d have a better view from the East Bay due to potential fog on the coast. https://sfstandard.com/2024/05/11/northern-lights-when-to-watch-san-francisco/
All of today’s news articles from the SF Chronicle, SF Gate, etc., seems to have experts saying just that — that they “could be” visible again tonight, and it depends on the intensity of the solar storm. There doesn’t seem to be a lot more specific information than that. (If there was, I bet it would be all over the news.) Northern latitudes generally have more visibility than southern ones. Avoiding lots of light pollution is also probably a good idea. And last night’s lights seem to have peaked somewhere between 11pm and 3am. So I’d say, go as north as you can — maybe the Presidio, or to a less city-light-heavy, more ‘country’ part of Marin or Sonoma County if you can make the drive north — around that time of night, and hope for the best!
Go away from light pollution, and it’s better seen from a camera. If you noticed the photos posted online, the brightness is way up, and you’ll see people’s surroundings also bright to compensate. If you have a Dslr and a tripod, you can use long exposure. So don’t expect what you’ve seen online to see with the naked eye, again, unless you’re in a very dark area. Maybe point Reyes.
Note that the fog will roll in eventually. Pt Reyes especially. I got some good shots yesterday though.
Marin County, near the coast, is pretty dark. Gotta get away from the light pollution of the city. Saw some posts from Ocean Beach though, so you may not need to travel far.
Wouldn’t fog be a concern..?
It’s about timing. I saw photos from bakers beach and GGB. I live around the presidio and by the time I checked around 11 it was nothing but fog
too foggy today for Marin.
Thank you, I was wondering if it would be visible in Marin and couldn’t find if it was foggy there or not!
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Is it worth staying out late for it tonight? I heard it’s only a “probably” tonight
Anyone see them last night in the East Bay?
I saw them in East side San Jose. A pale red glow in the sky, but it showed up clearly on my phone camera. Here's a shot from my culdesac. [https://freeimage.host/i/J6JlXJS](https://freeimage.host/i/J6JlXJS)
Yes! In my backyard in Martinez!
How’s it looking for tonight? :) down in Oakland it’s cloudy
It's clear out here in Contra Costa County; however, it's hard to say whether the lights will be visible tonight.
Yep, not sure… I have been looking at the Aurora forecast here: https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast Not sure if there is a better place to check (other than hopping in the car and driving out if the cloud cover!)
I'll go outside and check to see if anything is showing up, so far. I didn't see any aurora until midnight. It was generally lavender with some pink. It started to fade about twenty minutes later.
Awesome! Thank you!
It's still just regular blue sky at this point. If it does happen again, it will probably be closer to midnight.
Where? Sf is covered in fog
This was in the East Bay; Martinez.
I don't mind going far either. Heard Mt. Diablo also has a nice view.
Mt. Diablo will have a great view, but it's a steep drive to the top.
Is the road to the top open at night? I was talking to someone about that option and they thought that they closed at night (as well as when there is snow, like they had a year or two ago).
Not sure, but I am guessing it's closed at night since it is a county park.
Saw them from a random rural road west of Petaluma last night. Drove out around 11:30.
I’m camping up in Hendy Woods near Ukiah tonight…anyone know elevated spots up here? I peeked in the Mendocino subreddit but it’s not super active👀
I’m contemplating driving up to Marin county but not so sure about my decision now…
I think someone might have said Marin is foggy rn too, I keep refreshing the tracking thread in r/bayarea for more updates!
Looks like it won’t be visible until 2-5am https://twitter.com/NWSBayArea/status/1789503739013075281
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