How far south can Aurora Borealis occur?

The Aurora Borealis or its more common name, ‘Northern Lights’ is a phenomenon that is usually associated with far Northern regions such Canada and Alaska. What’s not readily known is that the Northern lights have been sighted as far south as Florida and Arizona. Although it’s rare, this sight has been visible from Long Island several times during the past few years.

You don't have to be at one of the poles to see an aurora. "If there is a very, very strong magnetic storm you tend to get more energy, so the aurora tends to move from the poles towards the equator because more particles can get through," said Dr Dulgig.

This happens especially around the time of the so-called solar maximum every 11 years or so. The last maximum was in 2000. At these times the aurora australis is seen frequently in Tasmania and is occasionally visible as far north as Brisbane.

Read the whole article at

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s565290...

The Aurora effect only occurs at the poles. I have read in some science magasines (New Scientist for one) that it is possible under very favourable circumstances to view them from middle latitudes but the effects themselves are centred around the magnetic north and south of the planet.

I know that during some bad flares in recent years they were see in Florida, not sure what part of FL.

Found this:

http://www.aurorachasers.com/ViewingGuide/index_ht...

"The only place where auroras hardly ever occur is at the equator, however they still have been seen there too"

We have seen them quite often in NY but not in MD. Never in the daytime. We have experienced times of radio interference from flares more in MD.

I've seen it occasionally when I lived in the North of Scotland (Inverness) - so about N54

I witnessed it in the bootheel of SE Missouri in the fall of 1958.

They've been witnessed as far south as Mexico.